Hague: Save the pound

William Hague has repeated his claim that he can still win this week's general election.

Despite no change in the opinion polls, the Conservative leader said he could still defeat Tony Blair.

He said he would not admit defeat until "the votes are cast and counted".

Hague said he was enjoying the campaign and would not allow criticism to get him down.

"I get a huge amount of positive encouragement from thousands of people every day," he said.

He said the campaign had been invigorating. "I've enjoyed every day of it so far and will continue to enjoy every day of it. I enjoy politics and I have an important message to convey - I'm fighting for what I believe in," Hague said.

But he conceded that he would take the blame if his party was heavily defeated on Thursday.

"I am the leader of the party. I get the credit for its successes and the blame for its failures and I am very comfortable with that," he said.

He dismissed claims that the party had ditched plans to focus on Europe and shift onto health, schools and police.

He said the Tories would continue to focus on Labour's plans to take Britain into the single currency.

"Next Friday we will either have a government that is dedicated to saving the pound and stopping the loss of the rights and powers of our country or we will have a government dedicated to ditching the pound and giving more of those rights and powers away," said Hague.

In addition to the single currency Hague said he would focus on "the decline of our public services".

He said: "If people want a different government next week that will hit crime hard, bring down petrol tax, do something about public servicesand keep the pound, they have got the chance to get that government."