'Back Davis or get shafted'

The Tory leadership battle turned nasty today with claims that MPs were threatened with being "shafted" if they refused to back David Davis.

An ally of Mr Davis was accused of trying to bully backbenchers into supporting his campaign to succeed Michael Howard.

The veteran figure warned one wavering MP: "You know what happens to those who sit on the fence - they end up getting shafted."

MPs have interpreted the remark as a warning that they will be denied promotion by the whips unless they come out in support of the shadow home secretary, currently the clear frontrunner in the contest.

The disclosure will fuel worries in the Davis camp that some of his most loyal allies are going too far in their attempts to create an unstoppable bandwagon. One of his most senior supporters, Derek Conway - who is tipped to be chief whip if Mr Davis wins - was judged to have overstepped the mark by claiming in a television interview that some backbenchers were talking about collecting names to force a confidence vote in Mr Howard.

Mr Davis has made clear privately that he did not approve Mr Conway's comments, which were described by allies as "unhelpful". There is no suggestion he is aware of the heavy-handed tactics of some supporters.

Mr Howard's fight to stay on as party leader until December was further undermined when a senior Tory donor called for him to go within "hours or days, and not months". Sir Tom Cowie, who gave the party ?400,000 in the first fortnight of the election, said there was a need to "get back to the old race and pass the baton over and get on with it".

That was echoed by Conservative vice-chairman Andrew Rosindell, a protege of Lord Tebbit, who broke ranks, saying: "It would be wonderful if the party conference could be a launching pad for the new leader."

Mr Howard wrote to MPs last night admitting that internal reforms including new leadership rules had been badly handled. But he refused to resign early. His wife Sandra is said to be firmly backing his battle to stay on long enough to steer the reforms through.

But the Tory leader's authority was badly damaged this week by a revolt against the reforms, climaxing in a rowdy meeting of MPs.

There was increasing speculation that he would have to agree a contest in the summer, to allow a new leader to take over for the party conference in Blackpool.

One likely contender, Tim Yeo, said: "There is a particular issue about the party conference. I do understand those people who say they would prefer the party conference to be a coronation of a new leader."

Mr Davis is so far ahead that some MPs think he could win by "acclamation".

The shadow home secretary today stepped up his campaign against the Government's plan for ID cards.

Writing in the Evening Standard, he edged the party policy closer to outright opposition to the cards, saying the technology was "flawed" and the Government refused to answer his questions.

He writes: "So, in the national interest, we now have no option but to oppose their plan."