David Cameron has denied being a Thatcherite - despite arguing in an interview that 'we are all Thatcherites now'.
The Prime Minister said he was a 'tremendous supporter' of his Tory predecessor Margaret Thatcher.
But asked directly whether he was a Thatcherite, Mr Cameron replied: 'No...Other people might call me that. I think the label's now... it's slightly become... labels now don't quite mean what they did then.'
Supporter: David Cameron and Margaret Thatcher. He said he was not a Thatcherite describing it as a 'label'
Cameron and Thatcher: 'The battles she won for our country were so important' said the Prime Minister
He added: 'I was a tremendous Mrs Thatcher supporter... The battles she won were so important for our country, but there are now different challenges and things that need to be dealt with.'
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Pressed on whether he thought there were problems with Baroness Thatcher's legacy, Mr Cameron said: 'Yes, there are some things that I think needed to be changed.'
The premier said he was 'trying to reindustrialise Britain' and had been more 'socially liberal'.
The interview in the Sunday Times took place before Lady Thatcher's funeral this month.
Rivals Boris Johnson and David Cameron: The London mayor could return as an MP before the next election
But on the day of the ceremonial event, Mr Cameron told BBC Radio 4's Today programme many of her reforms had eventually been accepted by all parties.'In a sense we are all Thatcherites now,' he said.
According to a YouGov poll, the public are split on whether Mr Cameron is a Thatcherite with 36 per cent agreeing and 36 per cent disagreeing.
Meanwhile, Mr Cameron has given a strong signal that his Tory rival Boris Johnson could return as an MP before the next election.
He left the door open when asked if Mr Johnson could combine the role of mayor of London with being an MP.
Pointing the same way: Johnson could possibly seek selection form the safe seat of Croydon South, according to critics of David Cameron
'Boris can do anything, that’s the moral of the story of Boris' said Mr Cameron.
He gave the interview before last week’s announcement of Johnson’s youngest brother, Jo, as head of the Downing Street policy unit.
The Prime Minister insisted he did not feel threatened by the mayor’s popularity nor apparent ambition.
'Boris is one of the greatest assets the Conservative party has . . . I love Boris.'
Asked whether Johnson could become prime minister, he replied: 'I’d never want to put a limit on what Boris can achieve.'
Mr Cameron's critics have discussed the possibility of Mr Johnson seeking selelction for the safe Conservative seat of Croydon South.
Veteran MP Richard Ottaway is retiring at the election.One MP told the Sunday Times: Boris could have seat he wants but Croydon would suit because it's safe and in London.'