Who's backing who? (rolling update 2)

It's now official - David Willetts is endorsing David Davis.  David Willetts is the first leadership contender, with parliamentary backing, to quit the race.  There are now five contenders (with parliamentary backers) still in the race: David Davis, David Cameron, Ken Clarke, Liam Fox and Sir Malcolm Rifkind.  It is not clear who David Willetts' four backers will support.  This rolling update will identify them if and when they - and others - declare.

David Davis (65)

1. David Amess (2/10)
2. Richard Bacon
3. John Baron (2/10)
4. Sir Paul Beresford (2/10)
5. Graham Brady
6. Julian Brazier
7. Dr Greg Clark (24/9)
8. Derek Conway
9. David Davies
10. Philip Davies
11. David Davis
12. Nadine Dorries
13. Jonathan Djanogly
14. James Duddridge
15. Nigel Evans
16. David Evenett
17. Michael Fallon
18. Mark Field (25/9)
19. Eric Forth
20. Roger Gale
21. David Gauke (2/10)
22. Cheryl Gillan (22/9)
23. Paul Goodman
24. Damian Green
25. Dominic Grieve (22/9)
26. Philip Hammond
27. Nick Herbert
28. Mark Hoban (25/9) - former DW supporter
29. Philip Hollobone
30. Adam Holloway (6/10)
31. Stewart Jackson (24/9 in Peterborough Evening News)
32. David Jones
33. Julie Kirkbride
34. Greg Knight
35. Ian Liddell-Grainger (19/9)
36. David Lidington (25/9) - former DW supporter
37. Tim Loughton (19/9)
38. Andrew Mackay (20/9)
39. Anne Main
40. Humphrey Malins (22/9)
41. John Maples
42. Patrick Mercer
43. Andrew Mitchell
44. Malcolm Moss (2/10)
45. Andrew Murrison (30/9)
46. Richard Ottaway (21/9)
47. James Paice (2/10)
48. Mike Penning (2/10)
49. Eric Pickles
50. Mark Pritchard
51. David Ruffley
52. Lee Scott
53. Mark Simmonds (19/9)
54. Keith Simpson (23/9)
55. Richard Spring
56. Robert Syms (19/9)
57. Ian Taylor
58. Shailesh Vara
59. Charles Walker
60. Ben Wallace (2/10)
61. Bill Wiggin
62. David Willetts
63. David Wilshire
64. Ann Winterton (2/10)
65. Nicholas Winterton (21/9)

David Cameron (27)

1. Peter Ainsworth (10/10)
2. Tony Baldry
3. Greg Barker
4. Richard Benyon
5. Sir John Butterfill (29/9)
6. David Cameron
7. Alan Duncan (6/10)
8. Tobias Ellwood
9. Nick Gibb MP (7/10)
10. Michael Gove
11. James Gray (6/10)
12. Jeremy Hunt (6/10)
13. Boris Johnson
14. Mark Lancaster (6/10)
15. Oliver Letwin
16. Peter Luff
17. David Mundell (5/10)
18. George Osborne
19. Andrew Robathan
20. Hugh Robertson (29/9)
21. Grant Shapps (6/10)
22. Nicholas Soames (29/9)   
23. Hugo Swire
24. Ed Vaizey
25. Peter Viggers (8/10)
26. Theresa Villiers (5/10)
27. Jeremy Wright (7/10)

Kenneth Clarke (20)

1. John Bercow
2. Alistair Burt
3. James Clappison (1/10)
4. Kenneth Clarke
5. David Curry
6. Quentin Davies MP (28/9)
7. Stephen Dorrell
8. Edward Garnier (10/10)
9. John Greenway (7/10)
10. John Gummer
11. Charles Hendry (16/9 - was backing David Willetts)
12. John Horam (28/9)
13. Michael Mates (28/9)
14. Anthony Steen
15. Andrew Tyrie
16. Robert Walter
17. Nigel Waterson (30/9)
18. Ann Widdecombe
19. Tim Yeo
20. Sir George Young (28/9)

Liam Fox (15)

1. David Burrowes (10/10)
2. Stephen Crabb (6/10)
3. Liam Fox
4. Chris Grayling
5. Justine Greening
6. Greg Hands
7. Stephen Hammond (6/10)
8. Mark Harper (6/10)
9. Oliver Heald
10. Eleanor Laing
11. Daniel Kawczynski
12. Brooks Newmark (6/10)
13. Stephen O’Brien
14. Gary Streeter
15. Desmond Swayne

Sir Malcolm Rifkind (7)

1. Michael Ancram (7/10)
2. Crispin Blunt
3. Peter Bottomley
4. Sir Patrick Cormack (7/10)
5. Jacqui Lait
6. Andrew Pelling
7. Sir Malcolm Rifkind.

The rolling update for when David Willetts was still in the race can be accessed here.

Comments

[Tim Hughes]

Quentin Davies also signed the letter to The Times backing Ken Clarke

[James Hellyer]

Two new supporters for Cameron at his website:

http://www.cameroncampaign.org/

We have Nicholas Soames and Sir John Butterfill.

[Coffee Monster]

Cameron has 3 new backers on his website:

http://www.cameroncampaign.org

They are Hugh Robertson, Nicholas Soames and Sir John Butterfill.

[James Hellyer]

Missed Robertson! They've somewhat bizarrely not listed them by surname. How... erm... modern.

[Hugh Field]

Does anyone know who Caroline Spelman is supporting? A random question but she has been a good front bench performer and would be a powerful backer.

[Coffee Monster]

Nigel Waterson has backed Clarke according to The Independent:

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article316114.ece

[James Hellyer]

There's a surprise. Former Heseltine PPS backs Clarke.

[Bristol]

I see Cameron's 3 new backers have been promptly added to the list of "Who is backing who".

But Quentin Davies who signed the letter to The Times on Wednesday has still not been added to the list.

Please can someone inform the editor so that Quentin Davies (and Nigel Waterson - see comment above) can both now be added in order to correct the list.

[Duncan]

The Conservative MP for Westbury, Dr Andrew Murrison, has declared his support for David Davis. He writes in his column in the local paper this week (http://www.andrewmurrison.co.uk/letter.htm):

"Turning now to my own party's little local difficulty – what looks like being the longest leadership election campaign ever. I can tell you that I'm not a happy bunny and wish to goodness that this matter had been resolved months ago. Still, we are where we are and I hope the admirable David Davis ends up being Leader of the Opposition."

He also says that he has signed his nomination papers, so one must wonder how many others in the same position aren't yet identified on this rolling update?

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"Does anyone know who Caroline Spelman is supporting? A random question but she has been a good front bench performer and would be a powerful backer."

It won't be John Redwood ;-)

Cheap shots aside, I fully agree with your comments about Caroline Spelman. If the Conservatives want to win back female voters, the next leader would do well to give higher-profile roles to the likes of Caroline Spelman, Theresa May and Julie Kirkbride.

[Richard Allen]

"the next leader would do well to give higher-profile roles to the likes of Caroline Spelman, Theresa May and Julie Kirkbride."

I certainly agree that Caroline Spelman should have a higher profile job, she is consistantly a strong performer and comes accross very well. As for Julie Kirkbride, her exit from Howard's shadow cabinet was one of the worst moments of Howards leadership and she should definately return to the front bench.

Then there is Theresa May, about whow I really can't make my mind up. Although she comes accross very well and probably appeals to non tory voters I am always left with the impression that she is slighly out of her depth. I can't think of a job she has done well.

[Coffee Monster]

James Clappison has backed Clarke according to The Independent:

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article316364.ece

[Coffee Monster]

The Guardian is also saying that Jeremy Wright has declared for Fox after all:

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/conservatives/story/0,9061,1582555,00.html

However, it's possible they got their information from this site earlier.

[John Coulson]

I think I am owed an apology after all. I found it highly offensve that my information was called into question.

[Selsdon Man]

Clappison has backed Clarke in the past. Ken needs to unveil new supporters not retreads.

[Dan]

I am really worried about Dr. Fox's campaign. This is the candidate I am backing and his campaign doesn't appear to be picking up any momentum.

Do you think that it might start to pick up after the conference or will it stall?
I met the man on Thursday and I firmly believe he is the man to lead us to Election Victory in 2010 against Gordon.

Dan

[Dan]

Well it appears that the financial backers of the Party are lining up against Clarke.

Is it possible that he won't even see it through the first round?

Dan

[James Hellyer]

Dan,

I understand that talks between Fox, Cornerstone and the Telegraph nine are still ongoing (code for persuading Leigh not to run and instead endorse Dr Fox).

Also there may be tactical considerations. Cameron announced new supporters this week, for example, and it went unnoticed what with both launches and the ongoing Davis unveilings.

[Editor]

Dan: Today's Sun has a 'fifty MPs to back Fox' story. I think that unlikely but if he gains the backing of a dozen Cornerstone folk Fox still has a reasonable chance of getting to the final run-off.

[Dan]

Do you think that Fox can make it to the final two?

It seems to me that Clarke Support is shrinking, the question is, if it is where does he pledge his support?

I don't think will get it as he is Eurosceptic among other things. Thw question after that is can Fox hold out against Rifkind, its looking good on that front at the moment but who knows.

If Rifkind does stand aside, is he more likely to back Davis as he is the favourite and might want to get onside in the hope of a decent job...?

I suppose the conference will make a lot of difference to all concerned.

Dan

[Dan]

>>Dan: Today's Sun has a 'fifty MPs to back Fox' story. I think that unlikely but if he gains the backing of a dozen Cornerstone folk Fox still has a reasonable chance of getting to the final run-off.<<

This is excellent news, lets hope there is some truth in it.

Dan

[Editor]

...and on the continuing saga of Jeremy Wright MP I'm investigating why The Guardian has written what it has. It may be acting on new information?

I don't so much disbelieve you Mr Coulson - I just have NO idea who you are... and I had been told by two good sources that Mr Wright was undecided. The Guardian story has sent me back to my sources...

[AnotherNick]

I would think that Rifkind's One Nation position has more in common with the Cameron campaign than anyone elses. Rifkind has a lot to offer the new leader.

Another interesting decision in the race for 2nd spot will be Andrew Lansley, a Clarke Supporter in the past but also someone who embraces the modernising message. likely to back Ken, but possible he may side with Cameron.

[James Hellyer]

Today's Sun has a 'fifty MPs to back Fox'

I think it's pretty clear who The Sun is backing!

You might scoff at the fifty figure, but thirty MPs has been the one bandied around, and that seems perfectly attainable. If it doesn't already include the undeclared members of Cornerstone and the Telegraph Nine, then fifty votes is a real possibility. Unless those two groups do declare for him, it will remain just that.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"Meanwhile Nigel Waterson, the Eurosceptic MP for Eastbourne, backed Mr Clarke, underlining the former Chancellor's growing appeal across the party."

Editor, you've missed this from the Independent yesterday.