The Conservatives will adopt the successful strategy of the Liberal Democrats at the next election and concentrate their efforts on marginal constituencies. William Hague will next week launch a fund-raising drive to finance a "Get out the Vote" campaign in the party's target seats.

A letter to party donors says that the Tories can win the election if they gain the support of floating voters, many of whom make up their mind in the first or last days of an election campaign according to Stephen Gilbert, Conservative director of field operations.

"We are not going to win the next election by doubling our majorities in seats like Reigate or halving Labour's majorities in seats like Rotherham," he said.