Mr Hague won a standing ovation from the delegates as he invited wife Ffion to join him on-stage.

Messrs Hague and Portillo at breakfast on Sunday

Mr Hague told the conference that mainstream voters instinctively agreed with the Tories on issues like asylum seekers, Section 28 and early release for prisoners.

And he launched a broadside on "stealth taxes", accusing the government of treating voters with contempt by assuming they wanted tax cuts only for selfish reasons.

"They have disdain for the values of the mainstream majority," he said.

"They believe people only want low taxes for the most base of reasons. That people want lower taxes because they are selfish and greedy."

Cutting social security

Mr Hague repeated his assertion that low taxation is a moral good in itself, because it encourages greater prosperity, creating jobs and allowing people to give more to charity.

Shadow chancellor Michael Portillo had told the conference on Saturday that the Tories would match Labour's increased spending on health and education, while also cutting taxes.

Mr Hague insisted the double could indeed be achieved, by more effective spending, cutting the bill for social security and asylum seekers, and reducing bureaucracy.

I've already got £500 on the Tories to win the next election, and I'm going to put more money on now. It was brilliant

Tory member Tom Porter

Mr Hague's speech was well-received by his audience.

One party agent from West Sussex, Hilgary Flynnd, said: "The constituencies will go back and fight even harder after hearing that. It is just what they needed."

And Tom Porter, from the New Forest, said: "I've already got £500 on the Tories to win the next election, and I'm going to put more money on now. It was brilliant."

Earlier Mr Hague denied newspaper reports that he "begged" Tony Blair to give the party's treasurer Michael Ashcroft a peerage.

But Mr Hague admitted he had discussed the issue with the prime minister during the recent EU summit in Lisbon.

Mr Hague told GMTV's Sunday programme: "I phoned him at Lisbon... [Mr Ashcroft] was on the agenda as were many other things."

Controversial links

The forum in Harrogate gave a warm reception to Mr Ashcroft, a millionaire business tycoon who spends most of his time in Belize, despite the controversy surrounding his peerage because of his bankrolling of the party.

Newspaper reports say Mr Ashcroft wants to reflect his links with Belize in his new title in the Lords.

"I hope I can be Lord Ashcroft of Belize and somewhere-in-the-UK," he was quoted as saying in the Sunday Telegraph.

But Mr Hague said Mr Ashcroft had been joking.