The Tories believe it is "now impossible" for Labour to win the next general election, the Conservative local government supremo has told the FT, reflecting the opposition party's growing confidence that it will be in power by 2010.

Eric Pickles' damning assessment of Labour's prospects goes further than the official stance of David Cameron, who has warned repeatedly about the dangers of complacency. But it reflects the Conservative leadership's private conviction that Number 10 is now theirs for the taking.