Interviewed in the Telegraph, Michael Howard reveals that tomorrow he will launch an "open and honest debate" about the future of his party after its third successive defeat.

Howard confirms that he had rejected calls to stay on as a caretaker leader for up to 18 months, saying: "I hope we will have a new leader by Christmas."

He intends to hold a weekly "forum" until the summer, in which Tory MPs, peers, staff and key supporters will be able to debate the party's fresh direction.

Shadow Cabinet members will be involved, but will not be permitted to criticise colleagues.

Writing in the Telegraph today, the shadow home secretary, David Davis, rejects the idea that the Tories should model themselves on New Labour.

"At exactly the time when the Blairite model is failing, it would be extraordinary for the Tory party to try to imitate it," he says.

Liam Fox, the former co-chairman who is now shadow foreign secretary, used a speech yesterday to claim that voters liked the Conservative Party's policies, but not its image.

"In marketing speak, we were successful in selling the product, but not in selling the brand," he told the Politeia think tank.

"The young families who were turning away from Tony Blair could not yet clearly see why the Conservatives would offer a brighter future for their children."