'Now Cameron should bring back David Davis'

DAVID CAMERON should follow up his reshuffle with a recall for David Davis, says former minister Michael Portillo.

The Tory leader yesterday brought back Kenneth Clarke as shadow business secretary in an attempt to make his team harder-edged and more populist.

The switch of Chris Grayling to shadow home secretary and Eric Pickles to party chairman were widely seen as an attempt to reach out to skilled working class, northern and male voters.

But Mr Portillo said that Mr Cameron had to go further and find a post for Mr Davis, who quit the shadow cabinet last summer to fight a by-election on the issue of civil liberties. Mr Portillo said: "I would like to see David Davis come back - that would strengthen the front bench further." Mr Portillo, who narrowly lost out on the Tory leadership in 2001, praised the return of Mr Clarke.

He told the BBC: "David Cameron is being very bold - he's taking a risk, but it's the right sort of risk. If you field your strongest possible team it shows you're not intimidated."

Mr Portillo added: "Ken Clarke is not just for Christmas. If the Conservatives win the election, he is going to expect a key position within the Cabinet.

"But to be sure of winning the election - even more sure of winning than David Cameron already is - it's all hands to the pump." Mr Portillo cautioned Mr Clarke about potential bossiness: "I say this with all kindness, but he does often say, 'I've seen this all this before, and this is how you should do it', so he's going to have to be careful with that."

There has been speculation Mr Davis could be brought back to head a Tory commission on either civil liberties or on the strategic future of Afghanistan.