Fox attacks leadership speculation

Tory co-chairman Liam Fox today warned colleagues that it was "disloyal" to speculate about a Tory leadership contest.

He spoke to the Evening Standard as new polls predicted a heavy Conservative defeat in tomorrow's election.

The comments from Dr Fox, who is seen as a leadership runner if Michael Howard loses badly, is a rebuke to rivals - including David Davis and David Cameron - who have refused to rule themselves out as contenders.

"People who are even willing to discuss or entertain, let alone answer questions like that during the campaign are disloyal," said Dr Fox. "People should be focused on fighting to win the election."

A Populus poll for The Times and ITV News today claims the Tories are now worse placed than before their record low results in 1997. It put them down two points on 27 per cent, with Labour on 41 per cent and the Liberal Democrats on 23per cent.