Tories threaten Howard with revolt

Michael Howard was today given an ultimatum about his leadership as his aides played down claims that the Tories are dominated by a "Notting Hill set".

Mr Howard was told that he faced a grassroots revolt unless he delivered an impressive performance at this year's party conference.

John Strafford, chairman of the Campaign for Conservative Democracy and one of the first activists to demand the departure of both William Hague and Iain Duncan Smith, said Mr Howard would "face big trouble" unless the party got its act together.

Mr Strafford said activists were "muttering" about the leader after his failure to deliver a knockout blow to Tony Blair over the Butler report and recent polls putting the Conservatives level with the Lib-Dems.

"If he has a bad conference, I can see moves happening pretty quickly," he said. "The muttering will become louder and louder."

Although some MPs are unhappy at the party's lacklustre performance, the chances of a leadership challenge before the general election are remote.

Mr Howard's aides have moved to deny claims that a group of metropolitan young Tories are plotting to remove veteran backbenchers at the next election. Rachel Whetstone, Mr Howard's 36-year-old chief of staff, is said to be furious at being cast as one of the Notting Hill elite. One aide said today: "We are not going to change strategy."