Michael Howard has put his party on an election footing but has refused to be drawn on his intentions should the Tories lose a third successive election.

Speaking on the last day of his conference he dismissed claims that he was a liability, claiming the election was "there to be won".

He urged delegates to "take our message from this hall and tell people what we can do".

"Let's get going," he said to the assembled party faithful.

The Telegraph gives a positive review to the Tories' week, saying Howard "left Bournemouth as the most credible and substantial of the three party leaders that the Tories have elected since John Major was defeated seven and a half years ago."