Two more shadow cabinet members today opened their campaigns for the Conservative leadership with speeches that contrasted in style but not in substance.

David Davis and his more youthful opponent David Cameron, the Shadow Education Secretary, each gave speeches calibrated to appeal broadly to both the Left and the Right wings of their party.

Mr Davis stressed his right-wing credentials by saying that he believed in lower taxes, smaller central government, reclaiming powers from Brussels, promoting a property-owning democracy and weaning the poor off welfare benefits.

But the Shadow Home Secretary, who now describes himself as a One Nation Tory, also courted the Left by stressing how he had come into politics to give other people the same chances in life that he had enjoyed.

"I want to win for a reason - to change Britain and improve lives," he said. "I want people to enjoy the kind of opportunities and security that I've had myself.

"We are an affluent nation, and yet too many people are left behind. The best off in society can move house or go private if they want to get their children into good schools. They can take out health insurance or pay if they fall ill and want to get treated quickly. They can afford to live in a better neighbourhood with safer streets. But most families simply don’t have these options."

The speech carried echoes of William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard, who all began their leadership with claims of moderation and a desire to open up the party to a broader section of British society, but ended up on the Right.

In an interview with The Times today, Mr Davis vowed that he will not repeat the mistakes of previous Tory leaders by "swerving to the Right" to cling on to core Conservative voters.

"I know there will be hard times. But in my view, to shift your position to shore up your core vote is the one way to guarantee that you will lose the next election," he said.

Leadership rivals say that Mr Davis is a rightwinger and a recent convert to moderate One Nation Conservatism, who will not stick it out.

In his speech, Mr Davis said that his first task was to reform and modernise the Conservative Party to make it fit for government. He hinted that elitist attitudes would have to change, describing to The Times how he had made enemies in the party because he lacked deference to those who saw themselves as more upper class.

"I believe that the modern Conservative Party must have the courage to commit itself to radical change," he said today. "Modern Britain is a non-deferential, largely urban, diverse country. We need to reflect this reality within our own party if we are to build wider public support."

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