TORY heavyweight Ken Clarke withdrew from the leadership race today, leaving the way clear for favourite Michael Howard.

The former chancellor said: "I'm not going to give up any of my other bad habits, but coming second in Conservative leadership elections is something I don't intent to do."

The news will be welcomed by supporters of Mr Howard. Barring a surprise intervention by an MP angry about the treatment of former leader Iain Duncan-Smith, it now seems certain this is a one-horse race.

Mr Clarke said: "I look forward to supporting anybody who emerges as leader of the party and tries to get us back on track.

"I particularly welcome what Michael said about leading from the centre and I hope to see that put into practice.

Lurch

"I hope he broadens the appeal of the party because we have lurched too far to the right in the years since we've gone into opposition.

"I'm sure Michael is determined to do something to make a broader appeal and to make more use of the party."

Mr Clarke has already held talks with Mr Howard, a friend since their days at Cambridge, and said he would be meeting him again. But he said this would not be linked to his ambitions to be leader.

Earlier, Mr Howard released a list of nearly 100 Tory MPs who are now backing his campaign, including Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West) and Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley).

Mr Howard believes he can end the "ancient feuds" which have distracted the Conservatives and that he can overturn Labour's massive Commons majority at the next general election.

"On one night in 1997 our majority disappeared. But what happened that one night can just as easily happen the other way in one night," he said.

Even before he is elected, the former Cabinet minister has set himself the goal of bringing Britain's public services and standard of living up to the levels of other large economies.

Mr Howard, the party's economics spokesman, is more cautious than Iain Duncan Smith about making sweeping promises of tax cuts.

As a compliment to the leader-in-waiting, Tony Blair has called an emergency meeting of his Cabinet to work out a plan for dealing with Mr Howard. It will be held as soon as the leadership of the Conservative party is confirmed. A Howard leadership engineered swiftly through a bloodless coup was No 10's worst nightmare.

Many Labour MPs would have been happy with Iain Duncan Smith's continued leadership at a time when the government is facing criticisms over foundation hospitals and student fees and with the report expected soon on the Hutton inquiry into the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly.

Mr Duncan Smith, who resigned as leader on Wednesday after losing an MPs' vote of confidence, has promised the new leader his absolute loyalty and is appealing to Tory MPs to end the plotting.

ian.craig@men-news.co.uk

Tweet