Winning the hearts of women voters was a tremendous achievement for David Cameron. Latest polls show that 42% of women would vote Conservative compared to 30% for Labour if an election was held in three or four years. Men, however, favour Labour under Gordon Brown by 37% to 34% for Tories.

Does this now indicate that it is time to focus more on winning over a larger share of the male vote? Has too much emphasis been given on winning the female vote at the expense of men’s votes?

Will Tony Blair – or his expected heir Gordon Brown – be able to win back female support at the ballot box? Or have they lost their trust for good?

I believe it was the right for David Cameron to appeal to more women. You can certainly never underestimate the power of women and their desire to be heard and listened to. And when they want to be heard, they know how to maximise on this – like the feisty WI women who heckled Blair and the outraged mother Marie Hutchings who challenged him about special school closures.

Tony Blair and Cherie have only themselves to blame for failing to connect with women voters. They ignored their genuine concerns and fears about the safety of MMR, they refused to say whether their baby son Leo had been given this triple vaccine on the grounds of retaining their privacy – despite being the most public couple in the land. It was sheer arrogance and indifference.

Having more women MPs is essential for the Conservative Party’s new bloodline, but it’s only one solution. Women also want to see tough and workable policies which will transform our struggling NHS, failing schools, crime and anti-social behaviour, and and inadequate pensions.They want value for their taxes, affordable homes and, perhaps most challenging of all, a society that is decent and respectful.

I’m confident David Cameron will maintain his increase of women’s votes, particularly if the dour Gordon Brown becomes leader of the Labour Party, a cold and distant politician.

David Cameron now needs to focus on getting more votes from men, who may not buy his line about “hugging a hoodie”, however well intentioned it is. He needs to appear tougher and become a man’s man.