Maude forced to deny claims of leadership 'plot'

Tory chairman Francis Maude was embroiled in a row today amid claims that he had backed shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley as the next leader.

Mr Maude was forced to deny allegations that he had plotted in secret with fellow "modernisers" to work out who should succeed Michael Howard.

The claims come as it emerged that a clutch of former supporters of Michael Portillo are ready to declare for David Davis, the shadow home secretary and favourite for the top job. The Times claimed that Mr Maude, former health secretary Stephen Dorrell and Andrew Tyrie had met on the eve of this week's shadow cabinet reshuffle to decide which candidates they would and would not back. Mr Tyrie was Kenneth Clarke's campaign manager in the leadership contest in 2001, while Mr Dorrell and Mr Maude backed Mr Portillo.

The report claimed the trio "agreed Lansley was their man, though with no great enthusiasm". Mr Dorrell was then said to have been dispatched to tell Alan Duncan and Damian Green that they should not enter the race because Mr Lansley was the preferred contender.

Mr Lansley has been talked of by MPs as a possible challenger to the two early front-runners, Mr Davis and Sir Malcolm Rifkind.

Mr Maude was due to host a meeting of modernisers including Sir Malcolm, Mr Lansley, Tim Yeo, David Cameron and George Osborne on Monday night. But at the last minute a dinner was arranged with Mr Dorrell and Mr Tyrie instead.

Asked if he had agreed a preferred candidate, Mr Maude told the Standard: "Absolutely not. It's total fantasy." Mr Dorrell said: "We have no power or status to agree a candidate."