Norris claims IDS backing

Tory mayoral hopeful Steve Norris received a boost today with claims that party leader Iain Duncan Smith was backing him for the post.

Mr Norris said he had "every reason to believe Iain will welcome my candidacy" - despite his intention to campaign against his party's policies on some issues.

The former transport minister is strong favourite to win the Tory nomination for 2004 after obtaining a creditable second place to Ken Livingstone in the 2000 mayoral elections.

However it emerged yesterday that he could face a high-profile challenger in the shape of Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe.

Lord Coe, a former close aide to ex-Conservative leader William Hague, is being urged by his friends to join the race and is said to be "seriously considering" such a move.

Mr Norris won the Tory nomination last time in spite of bitter objections from traditionalists who objected to his past relationships with a number of women. He is now married to Emma and is a strong supporter of gay rights.

He confirmed today he would stand on a platform of "total support" for the repeal of Section 28, which bans local authorities from " promoting" homosexuality in schools and elsewhere.

Moves to scrap the law have already been blocked by Tories in the House of Lords. There are signs Mr Duncan Smith is trying to draw up a compromise position to avoid another damaging-split. Mr Norris hit out at senior Tories, including former ministers Lord Tebbit and Nicholas Soames, who have criticised the the party's so-called obsession with finding gay, black and female parliamentary candidates. He said: "The only people obsessed with issues such as sexuality are people like Tebbit and Soames."

Mr Norris would be likely to face Mr Livingstone, standing again as an independent, and either Tony Banks, Trevor Phillips or Nicky Gavron for Labour.