Howe: eve of poll warning

Lord Howe: "Clarke is best all-rounder"

Howe issues Last Minute Plea for Clarke

All of the candidates have addressed MPs to try to drum up last minute support. Mr Hague, the bookmakers' favourite to emerge the eventual winner of the contest, has been accused of shifting to a more Eurosceptic stance to pick up the votes of undecided sceptics.

His campaign received a boost today when former education secretary Gillian Shephard declared she would vote for him. The announcement by Mrs Shephard - who had been one of Peter Lilley's most prominent backers - ended speculation that she had dismissed Mr Hague as too young for the job, and intended to back Mr Clarke.

Both the Hague and Clarke camps accept that tomorrow's second round of the leadership election will be tight and it is expected there will be a third and decisive ballot on Thursday. Mrs Shephard's decision could influence the estimated 20 Tory MPs who have still not decided who to support in the second ballot.

Following tonight's meeting of Tory MPs, supporters of both Mr Clarke and Mr Redwood rounded on Mr Hague for having little to say other than on the issue of Europe and for being exclusive.

One Clarke supporter, a former minister, said he had "never heard such a chilling speech". "Mr Hague has put down a series of markers that he does not want anyone in his cabinet that doesn't agree with him," the Clarke backer said. "There was only one unity candidate and that was Ken Clarke. He is the only candidate capable of uniting the party."

Hague

Hague: rejects accusations

One MP said Mr Hague had received many questions on his views on Europe, particularly from Mr Clarke's supporters, who are generally pro-European. Nevertheless a member of Mr Hague's campaign said he had now secured "well over" the 55 declared supporters needed to take him through to a third ballot.

John Redwood - "no fudge"

Mr Redwood'sspeech - despite being interrupted by the Commons division bell - was enthusiastically received. "It was like World War II - with lots of bombs going off. It really was a strong performance," said one of Mr Redwood's fans. Mr Redwood's camp claimed Mr Clarke "looked depressed" and resigned to eventual defeat.

All six original candidates promised that personal attacks on rival candidates would not be a feature of the contest, but as it comes down to the wire, exchanges between the remaining three have become increasingly bitter.

The former Chancellor, Kenneth Clarke, has accused his rivals of running "terribly divisive" campaigns based around the issue of European Monetary Union (EMU). Mr Clarke argues that this is the kind of in-fighting that cost the Tories the election in the first place, and says that they should now focus on making themselves electable.

He is determined, if elected as leader, to stick to his "wait and see" policy on EMU. Mr Clarke confirmed at the weekend that he would be unable to serve in a cabinet led by either John Redwood, who has ruled out a single currency for ever, or William Hague, who has ruled it out for ten years.

Should he lose the contest, Mr Clarke will return to the backbenches, where he will join the former Deputy Prime Minister, and Clarke supporter, Michael Heseltine, who has announced his intention to bow out of front-line politics. Mr Heseltine warned Tory MPs to vote for Mr Clarke or face collapse. He said Mr Clarke was the only candidate with "broad appeal" and the one with the maturity and experience to lead the party to victory at the next election.

The Clarke campaign received a further boost as a letter backing him, signed by 100 former ministers, constituency party chairmen, and businessmen, was sent out to Conservative MPs.

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