Heseltine out of leadership contest

A spokeswoman for Horton General Hospital said that Mr Heseltine was "comfortable" but expected to remain in hospital over the weekend.

It is the second time in four years the 64 year old has had heart trouble. He suffered a heart-attack while holidaying in Venice in 1993 but he claimed it was merely a minor attack and insisted he had recovered fully. He returned to work in less than a week.

He was expected to be a front-runner in the Conservative leadership contest , and with both Michael Portillo and now Mr Heseltine both out of the running this must be considered a very serious blow for the Tory party in their forthcoming leadership contest. Although not a long term option he was seen by many as a unity candidate to restructure the Conservative Party until a younger man could have been groomed in time for the next general election.

David Howell, the former chair of Select Committee on Foreign Affairs said he felt "..sorrow that he (Mr Heseltine) won't be available to play a leadership role in the future the Conservative Party."

Peter Temple-Morris MP for Leominister said tonight: Mr Heseltine "..was always a unifier - someone that could keep us together - that option has gone now and the obligation on us all is to keep the act toghether - bearing in that it won't be so easy without him."

Conservative Central Office issued a statement tonight, which said: "Michael Heseltine suffered mild angina pains early this morning and is now in hospital having tests. He has not had a heart attack and hopes to be home in a few days.

"He would like to confirm that he will not be a candidate in the leadership campaign for the Conservative Party."

Ann Heseltine outside Horton General Hopsital

Despite the shock waves being felt in the Tory party Mr Heseltine's wife Ann indicated tonight that she was "delighted" that he has withdrawn from the leadership contest. After visiting him in hospital she said her husband was "chipper" and underlined that he had not had a heart attack.