Cameron set to enter Tory leadership race

Shadow education secretary David Cameron today gave his clearest hint yet that he will stand for the Tory leadership.

Mr Cameron, 38, said that he was "contemplating" the move and that if enough of his colleagues liked his approach he would contest the top job.

The Witney, Oxon, MP spoke ahead of a keynote speech tonight which will outline his vision for education under a Tory government. Mr Cameron called for more "setting" to stretch brighter pupils while giving extra attention to those at the bottom of the class. He also said it was time that the Governmentstopped treating children as adults and teachers as children. Disruptive pupils who "knew their rights" should be put in their place.

Mr Cameron is increasingly seen, along with Ken Clarke, as the only hope of stopping David Davis from becoming leader.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Cameron was explicit for the first time about his own prospects of succeeding Michael Howard. "I'm putting forward my ideas today. If people like my approach and the policies I'm talking about, then I should put myself forward," he said.

Shadow culture minister Theresa May also appeared to throw her hat into the ring of the leadership race today with a warning that the party is too "macho".

Ms May, who famously dubbed the Conservatives "the nasty party", called for more women candidates and MPs.

Meanwhile, Mr Howard has vowed to fight any challenge to his leadership despite growing calls from rebel Tory MPs for him to quit early.

Allies of Iain Duncan Smith are plotting to get "revenge" against Mr Howard by gathering the required 30 names to trigger a vote of confidence.

Some backbenchers claimed today that "nearly 20" MPs had already written to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Michael Spicer in a bid to oust the leader.

But Mr Howard has told friends he is confident he will beat off any attempt to force him out before his planned departure in November.

The plotting intensified after he received a humiliating snub last night, with only four other MPs joining him to vote for his plans to reform party leadership election rules.

Backers of Mr Duncan Smith are still upset that Mr Howard was happy to allow the coup that saw a vote of confidence in 2003.