Sir Edward Heath has backtracked from claims that the Conservative Party needs a second election defeat before it will become electable again.

Performing an apparent u-turn on Monday, the Tory veteran and scourge of Conservative leaders for over 20 years said it "was asking a great deal" of William Hague to win.

"In the post-war world no party has been able to regain his position in government in one go. Churchill couldn't do it and others couldn't do it and it is asking a great deal of the present leader of the party to regain power in one go," he said.

Heath praised Hague's "determination and perseverance" although he would not be drawn on whether he would make a better prime minister than Tony Blair.

Despite claims that the Tory campaign will be based on heartland opposition to Europe and immigration, Sir Edward called on the Conservative Party to look beyond its core vote.

"There are many people who feel they are left out what I wanted was a far wider approach to people who are the electors,'' he said.

Michael Ancram, the party chairman, said there was nothing new in Heath's views suggesting he had taken the same approach to both John Major and Margaret's Thatcher's leadership.