Redwood: turning at his London press conference

John Redwood is addressing the main issues

John Maples says Hague is the best man for the job

Redwood: Conservatives in "desperate state"

Mr Redwood said that the party was in a "desperate state" and that the reason it had performed so badly at the election because it was focusing on the wrong issues. "We need a new popular Conservatism which relates to people's hopes and fears. They need to believe we care about them again." he said.

The former Welsh Secretary said that he had listened to what voters had told him during the election campaign and that the clear message was that the Conservatives had become too remote and "divorced from the trials and tribulations of everyday life". He cited examples of individual constituents who were dissatisfied with life under the Conservatives - including the story of a man who had to wait a year for a cataract operation - and said that his party should be more understanding: We cannot protect all the people all the time from every fall on lifeÕs big dipper...but we can show people we understand."

This marks quite a departure from Mr Redwood's usual campaign style. He is renowned as a fierce Euro-sceptic and little has been heard of him on issues other than Europe. It may be that he trying to broader his appeal by addressing more mainstream issues.

Mr Redwood criticised Labour's health policy, claiming that they would not be spending as much as the Conservatives would have done: "I don't think there's enough money for next year's health budget. A Conservative government would have increased the amount going to health in the autumn public spending review." He added that Labour had "boxed themselves into a very foolish position" by sticking to the government's spending plans which he claimed would not have been "inviolable" under the Conservatives.

In other Conservative leadership news...

Patten says he will not be standing

Former Tory party chairman Chris Patten has said he will not be standing for the leadership - even if the contest is delayed. Mr Patten, currently the governor of Hong Kong, was at Downing Street for a meeting with Tony Blair when he was asked by journalists if he would consider standing. He replied sharply that he was: "governor of Hong Kong until June 30th - and afterwards I'm Mr Patten."

John Maples: supporting William Hague

Ex-Treasury Minister John Maples has offered his backing to William Hague. Mr Maples won Stratford-upon-Avon at the last election after losing his seat in 1992. He served as Economic Secretary to the Treasury between 1990 and 1992.

Mr Maples said: "If the Conservative Party is to win the next election, it will have to be a very different party from the one that has just lost.
"I believe that William Hague has the qualities to lead us (the Conservative Party) out of these desperate circumstances."