Brittan Backs Hague and Tebbit Backs Redwood

Tristan Garel-Jones, the former Tory whip also supports Mr Hague as the only contender who can unite both wings of the party. "It really is true, he is one of the best equipped all-round politicians to have emerged in the past 20 years, sane, pragmatic and witty," writes Mr Garel Jones.

A Gallup poll for the Sunday Telegraph indicates that Mr Hague has the most electoral appeal of the six candidates. Voters were asked which of the candidates they liked most and which they liked least and Mr Hague was awarded the highest positive score.

John Redwood, Euro-Sceptic leadership contender

Former Tory cabinet minister, Lord Tebbit, has given his support to leadership contender John Redwood because he was not in the cabinet for the last two years of a Major government. In an interview with the Sunday Times Lord Tebbit says " he wasn't on the bridge...when the captain of the ship rammed onto the rocks...'

He criticises rival contender William Hague as having no track record of conviction, or the power to lead more senior colleagues.

Lord Tebbit is also expected to demand in the article that Conservative peers, who now outnumber the party's MPs, must also have a say in the leadership battle.

Other candidates are former Home Secretary Michael Howard, Stephen Dorrell and Peter Lilley.

The Sunday Times reports that former Tory prisons minister, Anne Widdecombe is opposed to the selection of Michael Howard as the new Conservative leader and intends to the reasons for her objections public later in the week. A poll of 85 MPs for the newspaper placed Mr Howard in joint bottom place with Stephen Dorrell, although 43 MPs were still undecided.

According to the Express on Sunday, supporters of Kenneth Clarke, the former Chancellor, privately acknowledge he has little chance of winning the contest and will switch to Mr Hague in the final stages.

There is speculation that Tory euro-sceptic MP Bill Cash may yet decide to stand in the leadership election. His entry would split the vote of those against a federal Europe and undermine John Redwood's position as the strongest euro-sceptic contender.

Mr Redwood, who challenged John Major for the leadership of the Tory Party and lost two years ago, is shortly expected to announce a list of those MPs who support his claim, over that of the five other candidates. See Backers Hope For Positive Tory Contest

There have been complaints from grass roots supporters that the depleted Tory benches, which now have only 164 MPs, is too narrow a base from which to choose a future potential prime minister. Mr Redwood has offered consultation with party activists, but ruled out a change in the constitution to create an electoral college. See Leadership:Ask Ordinary Members

Former Welsh secretary, Mr Redwood has underlined his opposition to signing the EU Social Chapter. He said that Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Robin Cook "have told our partners in Europe that they will give away our right to make social and employment law, and will surrender the veto over regional, environmental and industrial policy...Of course signing the Social Chapter is a concession as it does not merely change our current social and employment laws. It means we can no longer change these laws again unless many other countries agree."