Mr Kenneth Clarke's hopes of leading theConservative Party have been strengthened by an opinion poll published this morningnaming him as clear favourite.
The ICM poll for the
Daily Mail
found that almost twice as many British voters would prefer Mr Clarke - a rare euro supporter in his party - to lead the Conservatives than any of the other four candidates.
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Mr Michael Portillo
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Mr Michael Portillo, the party's finance spokesman and the bookies' current favourite to replace outgoing leader Mr William Hague, languishes well behind Mr Clarke among both Conservative voters and the wider electorate.
MrClarke's staunchly pro-euro stance has set him apart from the other four eurosceptic candidates – Mr Portillo, defence spokesman Mr Iain Duncan Smith, former party chairman Mr Michael Ancram and member of parliament Mr David Davis.
The poll indicates that 47 per cent of voters think Mr Clarke would be a good or very good party leader compared with 24 per cent for Mr Portillo. Mr Davis also has 24 per cent support, Mr Ancram has 23 per cent and Mr Duncan Smith has 19 per cent.
Among Tory voters, 46 per cent think Mr Clarke would be best compared with 34 per cent for Mr Portillo, 23 per cent for Mr Davis, 28 per cent for Mr Ancram and 29 per cent for Mr Duncan Smith.
The survey also indicates that Mr Portillo's admission of gayexperiences in the past is seen as irrelevant by most voters - although a third believe it would count against him in a general election.
But the poll sends out mixed signals about the British public's attitude towards the single currency.
While 20 per cent of people say the new Tory leader should be against joining the euro under any circumstances, 34 per cent say he should support scrapping the pound if it is proved that joining the euro is in Britain's economic interest.
PA