DAVID Cameron, who was elected Conservative leader on December 6, 2005, has led his party to its best opinion poll advantage since Margaret Thatcher - almost two decades ago.

But he has admitted the past year has been full of 'ups and downs'.

The Witney MP told the Gazette he believed the party under his leadership had made 'so much progress' it was now the only political force able to deliver real change for the country.

But the past 12 months have also provided some tough times for the Tory leader, who came under sustained criticism over the summer from critics within and outside the party, who were unhappy at the direction he was was taking.

Mr Cameron said: "It's fair to say there have been some ups and downs over the last two years but it is an honour and a privilege to lead the Conservative Party.

"We've made so much progress, and I think the Conservatives are now established as the only party with the vision and ideas to deliver the real change this country needs after more than ten years of Labour failure."

The MP decided against making a big deal out of the anniversary, and spent Thursday visiting the offices of Greenpeace.

His decision to make a speech on decentralised energy at the headquarters of the radical environmental campaign group was symbolic of his drive over the duration of his leadership to widen the party's base of support.

Ed Vaizey, Conservative MP for Wantage, who has known Mr Cameron for 15 years since they worked together in Conservative Central Office, said the Tory leader had managed 'incredibly' over the past couple of years.

He said: "It's been a rollercoaster rise, and he's shown several qualities.

"The pressure of being leader of the opposition is enormous, in some ways almost more than the Prime Minister, because he doesn't have the huge resources behind him.

"He has kept true to his word when he said what he was going to do when he ran for leadership, which was stick to the centre ground and modernise the party."

Mr Vaizey added: "He's managed incredibly. Even those who knew him before he became leader may not have appreciated his ability to handle that kind of pressure."

Source: Witney Gazette