This morning's Daily Mail reported that supporters of Iain Duncan Smith were seeking to oust Michael Howard "immediately". The Mail's unsourced p2 story followed MPs' rejection of Mr Howard's leadership election reforms.
An aide to Mr Duncan Smith told Radio 4's World at One that the Mail story was "nonsense" and that IDS thought that Michael Howard deserved to choose the timing of his own departure.
Many MPs remain increasingly concerned, however, that the long-drawn out nature of the leadership election process is undermining the Party's ability to oppose Labour. If Mr Howard refuses to step down early he can only be removed by a no-confidence motion. Thirty MPs would have to sign letters calling for that motion. Although Eric Forth MP has reportedly signed such a letter, and Quentin Davies MP is encouraging others to do so, it is unlikely that there are enough MPs prepared to vote for a bruising leadership contest. What is most likely is that there will be continuing grumbling about the long timetable for choosing a new leader but not enough anger to force an early contest.
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