KENT MP Ann Widdecombe has urged Conservative party chiefs to focus on developing "solid policies" to appeal to traditional party supporters amid a fresh bout of criticism at David Cameron's leadership.

Miss Widdecombe, MP for Maidstone and Weald, said it was vital the party began to set out its policies on key areas like law and order, immigration and Europe but denied that she was unhappy with the direction the party was being led in.

However, she warned there was a danger that the emphasis on presentation and PR was "in danger of going too far".

The party's poor showing in two by-elections, along with a dip in the polls, have put pressure on Mr Cameron.

But the former home office minister said she backed the leadership's efforts to broaden the party's appeal and said Gordon Brown was still reaping the benefits of a honeymoon period.

"The concentration on the green agenda and Third World issues has got people interested in us who previously would not have given a damn," she said.

"I have not had a problem with that. But having done that, no serious party should be going into an election without having established policies on law and order, immigration and Europe.

"They are the policy areas people look to us for. With the possibility of an early election, it is now time for us to do that."

Asked if she felt that the party had become too concerned about presentation and PR, she said: "We have had presentational problems and David Cameron has had to correct that.

"I do not think it has gone too far but it is in danger of going too far. Now is the time to look at some solid policies."

She dismissed reports suggesting some MPs were signalling they wanted to trigger another leadership contest, saying it would be "an extraordinary thing to do" and "wasn't the spirit which wins wars".