Interviewed in the Times, Conservative co-chairman Liam Fox claims the Tories have "rediscovered their own ideological self-confidence".

Ahead of the party's spring conference this weekend, he says he sees parallels with the position it was in when Baroness Thatcher came to power in 1979, in contrast to his future leadership rival David Cameron who this week called for the opposition to move on.

But Fox will tell activists today that the Tories must reconnect with young families, blue collar workers and metropolitan liberals if they are to regain power.