David Cameron has launched his first direct attack on rightwing Conservatives who claim he has betrayed fundamental Tory values, arguing that his party would never be returned to power by advocating “easy answers” on matters such as tax cuts.

Despite a recent string of abusive attacks on his policies from leading Thatcherites including Lord Tebbit, the former Tory chairman, the party leader on Monday insisted he would reject “the powerful gravitational pull” of “well intentioned cheerleaders” who wanted the Tories to adopt strident rightwing policies.