The Conservatives will take forward Tony Blair’s public service reforms if elected, taking a bolder approach to private sector involvement than Gordon Brown in the National Health Service and welfare reform, says Philip Hammond, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Hammond, promoted to the number two Treasury role in David Cameron’s recent reshuffle, launched a scathing attack on Mr Brown, saying the new prime minister was “backsliding” on Mr Blair’s drive to reform public services and shake up the welfare system.