Newly elected opposition leader David Cameron turned politics on its head on Wednesday, offering to help Prime Minister Tony Blair pass laws which many in the ruling Labour party oppose. David Cameron, 39, became the Conservatives? fifth leader in eight years on Tuesday as the party looked to youth to revive it after three election defeats at the hands of Blair.

In his debut parliamentary joust with Blair, the relative newcomer confounded tradition, declaring he wanted an end to the adversarial debate which characterises British politics. Cameron rose to his feet in a baying House of Commons then virtually silenced it by saying: ?The first issue the prime minister and I are going to have to work together on is getting the good bits of his education reforms ... into law.?

The offer appeared genuine but also allows Cameron to cast himself as a moderate who eschews knockabout politics which turns voters off while driving a wedge into the Labour party. ?The aim is to try and increase divisions inside the Labour party,? said John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University. Many on Blair?s side seemed at a loss at how to react.

There is new hope in the Conservative party as Blair has said he will not fight another election, a May election more than halved his majority and a slowing economy clouds the future of his likely successor, Chancellor Brown. Cameron?s aides are playing up his relative youth, labelling Blair and Brown ?yesterday?s men?. Despite a privileged background that critics say makes him too posh to command national support, his team believes he can widen the party?s appeal.

<B>Mike PEACOCK</B>