Dr Fox will open the two-day gathering of the party

The weekend conference is the first with Michael Howard as party leader.

Co-chairman Liam Fox told delegates the Labour government is running an "intruder state".

In an upbeat message he added that under Mr Howard the party could "effectively govern".

Reflecting optimism

Dr Fox attacked Labour for intruding into people's lives, saying it has a "socialist craving for control".

Labour had adopted a "sinister, destructive and punitive" attitude to people whose self-reliance threatened "their socialist craving for control", he said.

Dr Fox highlighted the Conservatives' new optimism, saying its burgeoning membership and funds reflected the optimism surrounding Mr Howard's leadership and that the party was on the brink of returning to power.

Mr Howard will hope to galvanise his party's renewed enthusiasm ahead of elections this June.

The European, local and London mayoral polls come a year ahead of an expected general election and are seen as a key test.

Representatives can look forward to a series of keynote speeches at the conference, with the highlight being an address by Mr Howard on Sunday.

A series of fringe events are also planned over the weekend.

Mr Howard took over the Tory leadership last November.