Tory big names who could succeed IDS

Shadow chancellor Michael Howard is the bookies' favourite to succeed Iain Duncan Smith as new leader of the Conservative Party.

The former Home Secretary has promised to support Mr Duncan Smith in the vote of confidence but pointedly refused to speculate on his own future if the leader is ousted.

David Davis, who stood for the leadership in 2001 before dropping out and throwing his weight behind Mr Duncan Smith, is another possible contender.

He was sacked as party chairman while on holiday and demoted to shadow the Deputy Prime Minister.

He is widely expected to stand if Mr Duncan Smith loses the ballot of Tory MPs.

The pair have been seen as rivals to form a "dream ticket" with left-leaning shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin, who has repeatedly insisted he does not want the top job.

Party chairwoman Theresa May, another "moderniser", has been mooted as both a potential leadership candidate and deputy.

Like Mr Davis, shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram stood in 2001 and has been tipped to launch a second bid.

Shadow health secretary Liam Fox has also been mentioned as a possible contender.

But the two names many Conservatives most want to see on the ballot paper - Kenneth Clarke and Michael Portillo - look most unlikely to appear.

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