I wish Mr Cameron well and I certainly see no reason at the moment not to vote Conservative. However, I am afraid at the stories I hear about him being the Tory answer to Tony Blair. The Prime Minister seems to live in a world not touched by reality - if you compare all those fine promises (centring in such words as "modern" and "compassionate") with the actual achievements of eight years, you can see that Blair is very much a self-regarding fantasist. Government is a job for people with a clear idea of what it is possible to do - compassion for the disadvantaged is no use if the State is unable to relieve them, being itself too poor or powerless. Mr Cameron should certainly tell us clearly what he would like to do, but always with the proviso that he realises that not everything is possible. Certainly, he will be ill-advised to make compassion a plank in his platform. John Small, Harrow, Middlesex

The systematic destruction of British values and the mistaken view that political correctness is the ideal should be avoided by David Cameron if he is serious about being worthy of the leadership of the Conservative Party. Alas, his pronouncements so far suggest otherwise. Philip Habib, Chertsey, Surrey

This is a terrible result for the Conservative Party. Politics and government should be about ideas and beliefs; there should be an ideological core which drives the man and the party forward. Cameron and his team think that Blair and New Labour didn't have that but they did; the Cameroons think they can ape a falsehood in being all things to all men. They think they can put on a show for the media, stand for nothing and win an election. They may well be right, but what is the point of that folly? David Davis was a truly accomplished and decent man who stood for things which, while not quite so popular in the salons of Notting Hill, would have reached out across the country. Martin Hayes, London

Cameron was more than significantly aided by a willing media who jumped at the opportunity to back someone who was "fresh". Unfortunately for Cameron, they will now be more and more interested in the substance of the man and will quickly pierce through any attempts at spin. The days of spin, spin, spin are well and truly over and as the economy slides downwards and with Labour unable to spend their way out of trouble, Cameron will have to show real leadership. He will face a challenging time ahead and we shall see whether he is successful or not. Sean Garman, Sydney, Australia

Here we go again; a new Tory leader, backed by a posse of earnest young public school 30-somethings, is going to introduce a more caring compassionate conservatism. Michael Portillo, in my humble opinion the only heavyweight in the party under 60, had a really radical plan for the future and was spurned. Let us see how long it takes for the reactionaries to try to destabilise another leader. I do think the Tories have a chance, but Cameron must understand that images and slick rhetoric will not get him into Downing Street. Michael Rigby, Blackburn

I voted for Davis (his policies were better defined and more in line with my beliefs). I don't know if Cameron is any better than the rest - only time will tell. I presume that what was said and the way it was said at the party conference will be mostly forgotten four years down the road. Let us hope we do not end up wondering why we voted for him. Actually, I believe it makes little difference who has been elected, not because I think the Tories are unelectable, rather the reverse. I believe Labour are entering that phase themselves. No party has ever reversed such a downward trend as Labour have been on (since they were first elected in 1997, actually) and I doubt very much that the appointment of Gordon Brown as leader will either, despite what people say. So their 35 per cent at the last election could easily be reduced to 30 per cent. In fact, their main task will be one of damage limitation. Hard to believe? Who would have thought four years ago that Cameron would now be leader of the Conservatives? Steven Roberts, Goffs Oak, Waltham Cross

I fervently hope that the new Conservative Government in waiting will use business experts and put into action all the things that Britain needs. Huge swathes of useless jobs need to be done away with to reduce the huge tax burden now placed on it by Gordon Brown. The first item that should be looked at is discipline. In the schools, give teachers the right to discipline unruly pupils. Discipline must be restored to our society and quickly. Mr Cameron, you are the means to restore our society and we are going to depend on you. Please make actions louder than words. John Buchan, Brisbane, Australia

Although I am proud to say that I backed David Davis from the very start to the protracted finish, I cannot fail but be carried along with this wave of optimism that David Cameron has injected into the party. I think Michael Howard is well and truly vindicated for his timing in standing down as Leader and for giving his successor a very prominent platform from which to take the Conservative message out to the country. As a Conservative, my fingers are crossed that we can sustain this momentum and build on it to secure a consistent Conservative lead in the opinion polls over Labour, be that Blair or Brown. I will admit to being slightly apprehensive that Cameron will not be as “pure” a conservative as David Davis or Liam Fox, but his overwhelming win gives him the leeway to lead the way he wants to with a strong mandate. Troublemakers will find little support. Cameron has won the right to lead the Party his way; I just hope that he uses his appeal better to promote Conservative principles and does not feel the need to disown true conservative policies. John Jenkins, Llanelli

I believe that the Tories have chosen well. David Cameron is articulate, intelligent and young; at last, Britain may expect effective opposition. Without a strong opposition a nation loses balance. The alternative voice and opinion is vital to an effective democracy. David Cameron provides the new blood needed to reinvigorate the Tories. His comments relating to society reveal a commitment to rebuild a compassionate community with the discipline to strive for excellence, motivated by a desire for an independent approach to both internal and external affairs. Rosemary Redston, Moorooduc, Australia

I wanted David Cameron to win, because as a younger person perhaps he would be more in touch with the realities of living today. And being younger he will also have the capacity to learn. Now I am waiting to see what he is going to do. Is the Conservative Party going to condemn us to another Labour victory? I want to know what they will do for me, as a middle-class, middle-Englander. Sarah Marquis, London

As a Tory, I am delighted with the election of David Cameron as party leader. His relative lack of experience means that he truly is able to offer "a breath of fresh air" and bring a new approach to not only the Conservative Party, but British politics overall. Under his leadership, I look forward to Conservative victory in the next general election. Dominic Graham de Montrose, London

I do not think that David Cameron is a good choice as a Tory leader. I feel that he is not a man who can free the country from its many years of dull tyranny. The Conservative Party needs a leader to rival the propaganda machine of the Labour Party; I do not think that he is the man to do this. Christopher Ward, Spilsby

David Cameron seems a nice enough chap, but whether he can bring the Tories electoral victory is doubtful. Like nearly every politician nowadays, his strong suit is not outstanding intelligence or special competence but public relations. In these circumstances, what does it matter which party one votes for or who leads it? Quintin McCutcheon, Aberdeen