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| Tories warned not to lose 'soul' | Tories warned not to lose 'soul' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron should "unveil the party's soul" rather than make "vacuous" reforms, ex-deputy leader Michael Ancram has warned. | Conservative leader David Cameron should "unveil the party's soul" rather than make "vacuous" reforms, ex-deputy leader Michael Ancram has warned. |
| He told the Daily Telegraph the party should stop "trashing" its Thatcherite past and focus on issues such as lower taxes and other "core values". | He told the Daily Telegraph the party should stop "trashing" its Thatcherite past and focus on issues such as lower taxes and other "core values". |
| Mr Ancram also said the UK could not stay in a European Union with an "agenda of ever-closer union". | Mr Ancram also said the UK could not stay in a European Union with an "agenda of ever-closer union". |
| The comments come after Mr Cameron said there would be no "lurch to the right". | The comments come after Mr Cameron said there would be no "lurch to the right". |
| They also emerge on the day the party's Public Services Improvement Policy Group unveils a number of proposals, including giving council tenants state aid to help them buy a home and break up "ghettos". | They also emerge on the day the party's Public Services Improvement Policy Group unveils a number of proposals, including giving council tenants state aid to help them buy a home and break up "ghettos". |
| 'Appearing ashamed' | 'Appearing ashamed' |
| Mr Ancram has written his own 30-page blueprint for the party called Still A Conservative, in which he says there is a public perception of the party "lacking an overall sense of vision and direction". | Mr Ancram has written his own 30-page blueprint for the party called Still A Conservative, in which he says there is a public perception of the party "lacking an overall sense of vision and direction". |
| He does praise Mr Cameron's "laudable efforts" as leader, saying he has "revived interest in the Conservative Party brand". | He does praise Mr Cameron's "laudable efforts" as leader, saying he has "revived interest in the Conservative Party brand". |
| But he says: "Now he must begin to unveil the party's soul based on those core values, principles and beliefs that form the timeless make-up of that Conservative soul." | But he says: "Now he must begin to unveil the party's soul based on those core values, principles and beliefs that form the timeless make-up of that Conservative soul." |
| Change for change's sake is a vacuous process, swiftly seen through by the electorate Michael Ancram MP | Change for change's sake is a vacuous process, swiftly seen through by the electorate Michael Ancram MP |
| He says he supports Mr Cameron's proposal to offer tax incentives to marriage, but claims the policy of treating same-sex civil partnerships in the same way as marriages "insults the intelligence of the British people". | He says he supports Mr Cameron's proposal to offer tax incentives to marriage, but claims the policy of treating same-sex civil partnerships in the same way as marriages "insults the intelligence of the British people". |
| Mr Ancram, MP for Devizes, says the Tories must not claim to be "the heirs of Blair". | Mr Ancram, MP for Devizes, says the Tories must not claim to be "the heirs of Blair". |
| "Of course as Conservatives we must show we have changed, but we must beware doing so by trashing our past or appearing ashamed of our history," he says. | "Of course as Conservatives we must show we have changed, but we must beware doing so by trashing our past or appearing ashamed of our history," he says. |
| And he adds: "Change for change's sake is a vacuous process, swiftly seen through by the electorate." | And he adds: "Change for change's sake is a vacuous process, swiftly seen through by the electorate." |
| Mr Ancram says his party should do more to protect "those areas of sovereignty such as fishing and trade" which have not yet been "surrendered" to the EU. | Mr Ancram says his party should do more to protect "those areas of sovereignty such as fishing and trade" which have not yet been "surrendered" to the EU. |
| "One thing is clear. We cannot remain part of a Europe where the agenda of ever-closer union remains active," he says. | "One thing is clear. We cannot remain part of a Europe where the agenda of ever-closer union remains active," he says. |
| Tax proposals | Tax proposals |
| Mr Cameron has in recent weeks concentrated more on so-called "core" Tory issues such as demanding a referendum on the EU treaty and saying last week that the level of immigration to the UK has been too high. | Mr Cameron has in recent weeks concentrated more on so-called "core" Tory issues such as demanding a referendum on the EU treaty and saying last week that the level of immigration to the UK has been too high. |
| Labour has accused the party of "lurching to the right" - something denied by Mr Cameron, who has pledged to fight on the centre ground. | Labour has accused the party of "lurching to the right" - something denied by Mr Cameron, who has pledged to fight on the centre ground. |
| And there was encouragement for Mr Cameron from a Populus opinion poll* for the Times which suggests the Conservatives have risen three points on a month earlier to 36%, just behind Labour, down two on 37%, with the Lib Dems also up three at 18%. | |
| Former party chairman Mr Ancram stood unsuccessfully as a candidate of the right in the 2001 leadership election to find a successor to William Hague. He went on to serve as deputy leader to Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard. | Former party chairman Mr Ancram stood unsuccessfully as a candidate of the right in the 2001 leadership election to find a successor to William Hague. He went on to serve as deputy leader to Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard. |
| He stepped down from the front bench following Mr Cameron's election as leader in 2005. | He stepped down from the front bench following Mr Cameron's election as leader in 2005. |
| * Populus interviewed 1,506 adults by telephone between 31 August and 2 September. |