FORMER Conservative leader William Hague yesterday said he felt the party's "long night" was coming to an end, during the launch of its European election campaign.

Party leader Michael Howard and shadow transport and environment secretary Theresa May were also in the region to get the campaign under way.

Mr Howard began in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, before he travelled to Lazenby Hall, in Danby Wiske, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, where, accompanied by Mr Hague and Mrs May, he met local farmers.

Their next engagement was a walk in Northallerton before the launch of the Yorkshire election campaign in the Golden Lion Hotel in front of about 200 local Conservatives.

Mr Hague said his time as leader had been the night-shift and that the party was ready to step into daylight.

He said: "In the Conservative party, it feels like we have been through a long night, and there is now an opportunity there."

Mr Howard used his speech to set out Tory policies on Europe.

He said: "Conservative policy is simple. Live and let live, flourish and let flourish and the Conservatives will stand up for British interests in Europe. We want to try and explain to people just what is at stake and how their lot can be improved.

"We must campaign for a Europe that responds to the needs of Britain. We do not want to squeeze every country into a one-size-fits-all plan, and that is why we are opposed to the European Constitution."

Yorkshire and Humber Labour MEP David Bowe last night called Mr Howard's policies jingoistic and isolationist.

He said: "If Michael Howard believes that the people of North Yorkshire are likely to be fooled by the Tory myths about Europe, then he is fooling himself."