TORY PARTY chairman Theresa May claimed the Conservatives have "our best opportunity for a decade", during a visit to York.

Ms May was speaking to members of Conservative Future at the University of York.

She said the political environment had opened up for the Tories as voters became disillusioned with Labour.

Ms May said: "I believe more and more people are getting fed up with the Labour Government. It is taxing them more, spending more on public services yet failing to deliver."

Asked about the Tories' showing in the recent Brent East parliamentary by-election, when the party slumped to third place, she said the party had won some notable council seats.

She said: "We took two council seats from the Liberal Democrats that night. We also now have overall control of Harrogate Borough Council."

Ms May did not dwell on the controversy surrounding Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith.

Mr Duncan Smith is to be investigated by the parliamentary commissioner for standards over allegations surrounding work done by his wife, Betsy, when she was employed as his secretary.

Ms May said: "It is important for the party to be united in order to move forward and get the message across."

Ms May described York as "very attractive" and said North Yorkshire was "a beautiful county".

Before coming to York, Ms May visited Harrogate to meet the leader of the borough council, Mike Gardner, and Conservative group members.

Updated: 10:40 Friday, October 17, 2003