Michael Howard admitted yesterday the Conservatives might not win the next general election.

But speaking as he launched the first part of the party's manifesto documents, the Tory leader insisted the Conservatives "can" win the election.

Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme whether he would stay on as leader in the event of a defeat, Howard said: "If my party want me to do that and I think I can continue to make a contribution, then yes I will."

He added: "I am working very hard to win this election, there is no substitute for victory and it is victory I believe we can achieve, not for our sake, but for the sake of a country which needs to travel in a different direction."

Meanwhile, shadow Cabinet ministers have submitted 120 applications to Whitehall departments to test new freedom of information laws.