Conservative Party needs to appeal 'beyond its core vote', Michael Gove tells Theresa May today

The Conservative Party must appeal "beyond its core vote and puts forward a reforming, forward-looking agenda", Michael Gove tells Theresa May today.

The Environment Secretary will make his second intervention in less than a week on the future policy direction of the Tory party, fuelling speculation that he still harbours hopes about becoming leader.

Mr Gove - who fought Mrs May for the party leadership two years ago – is backing the launch of Onward, a new thinktank which is developing policies on the left of the party.

Speaking ahead of the launch, said: “The Conservative Party is at its best when it appeals beyond its core vote and puts forward a reforming, forward-looking agenda that responds to the concerns of the entire nation.

"At last year’s General Election, we proved that our values and policies resonate in places once thought impenetrable Labour strongholds, but we need to go further to convince more people that we understand the need for change.

“That is why I am delighted to support Onward in its mission to make Britain fairer, more competitive and more united.”

Mr Gove is expected to speak at the launch in Westminster today alongside Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson who is tipped by many as a leader in waiting even though she is not yet an MP.

Figures to be presented by Onward show that fewer than one in five voters from an ethnic minority voted Conservative at last year’s General Election.

A YouGov poll last week found that only 9 per cent of people between the age of 25 and 39 year will definitely vote Conservative at the next general election.

Will Tanner, Director or Onward and a former deputy head of Mrs May’s Number 10 Policy Unit, said:  "We need to be the party of both traditional working class voters who are disillusioned with Corbyn’s Labour and the party of younger, metropolitan voters at ease with the modern world.

“If we don’t, we will forfeit our political relevance and be finished for at least a generation."

Last week Mr Gove raised eyebrows when he said the Tories had to find new economic arguments to win over young people, and not rely on the memory of Margaret Thatcher’s reforms in the 1980s.