THE Conservatives have elected 39-year-old David Cameron as their new leader.

In a postal ballot of Tory members across the UK, Mr Cameron polled 134,446 (68 per cent) of votes while his rival for the top job David Davis polled 64,398 (32 per cent).

Mr Cameron, who likes to be known as Dave, takes over from outgoing leader Michael Howard, the MP for Folkestone and Hythe.

Mr Howard, who had held the post since 2003, had refused to name his preferred choice, although Mr Cameron, who worked for him as a special adviser, is believed to have been his choice.

After the result was announced Mr Howard said: "The last few months have shown that the Conservative party has a wide array of talent and we are capable of conducting a contest of this kind with civility and humour."

He stressed: "I hope and expect that our new leader will have the same unstinting support that I had from the time I was elected leader until the general election.

"If that happens - as I am sure will be the case - the new leader will take advantage of the new mood in the country and then absolutely anything is possible."

Gravesham Conservative MP Adam Holloway, who switched to support Mr Cameron after initially backing David Davis, said the party now had to take a "long hard look" at various issues before it set out detailed policy pledges.

He added: "It is not about getting into Downing Street but doing the right thing for the country.

"I go on about needing more police on the beat and politicial correctness but we have to look at why a child of 12 becomes a yob and the much deeper reasons why we appear to be developing a social underclass in this country.

"We do need to take a step back and look hard at these issues."

Ashford MP Damian Green, who was part of David Davis' leadership team, said: "Today is the day to unite around David Cameron. He has been quite specific about wanting to modernise the party and expand our appeal into areas where our support is lacking and I welcome that."