Tories hold leadership talks

Michael Howard has ordered a meeting of the shadow cabinet next week to hammer out new leadership rules.

A tense meeting is being predicted in which rivals for the Tory crown are likely to be divided over a package of voting reforms that could tilt the outcome of the contest.

The Evening Standard has learned that the shadow cabinet will see the plans a day after they are decided at a meeting of the Conservative Party Board on Monday.

The board is expected to reverse the present rules, brought in by William Hague, which give grassroots members the final say.

In future, members will vote on a shortlist of candidates, with MPs choosing the winner. Mr Howard's reforms

have caused tensions between rival camps and many MPs believe the new rules would be a blow to front-runner David Davis, who is thought to be more popular with party activists than fellow MPs.

The theory is that a rival such as David Cameron or Kenneth Clarke could benefit. Allies of Mr Davis say he is untroubled by the reforms. "If that was their tactic it has backfired," one said.