Tories are in a mess, says Patten

The Tory party has drifted too far to the right and become a "mess", according to former chairman Chris Patten.

He called for a shake-up in the party's top ranks to bring forward more "attractive" figures, and named his former Cabinet colleague Kenneth Clarke as one of those who should take a more prominent role.

Earlier Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith sought to shrug off the continuing leadership struggle saying he had not given it a "second thought."

However the beleaguered leader was facing renewed criticism in the row which followed the sacking of senior party officials and open clashes with Michael Portillo.

Mr Patten suggested that the Conservative Party under Mr Duncan Smith had failed to find a voice which resonated with voters.

The European Commissioner told the BBC: "It looks in a mess today. People have got to work together and try to find a voice - they haven't done so far - which attracts the electorate.

"I fear that there are some in the Conservative Party who have become more interested in who is up and who is down in the Conservative Party, rather than whether the Conservative Party is ready and able to govern the country.

"I think it is much more important to consider that issue than this endless tribal warfare within the party."

Asked if he had met the next Tory Prime Minister, Mr Patten laughed and said he hoped he had.

He added: "There are some very attractive Tory frontbench spokesmen and I hope that they are in a more prominent position in the next few months."

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