Veteran right-winger and former cabinet minister Mr Michael Howard has confirmed he will stand for the leadership of the Conservative Party.
"I am announcing today that I am a candidate for the leadership of the Conservative Party," Mr Howard told a news conference this afternoon.
He pledged to retune the party to meet the needs of the 21st Century and said he would look for the political centre ground.
Party heavyweights are trying to put years of infighting behind them and unite behind Mr Howard in an attempt to find a credible candidate to challenge Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair.
Conservative MPs ousted Mr Iain Duncan Smith last night in a no-confidence vote after despairing at his inability to capitalise on a bruising year for Mr Blair in which his public trust ratings have plunged after the Iraq war.
Mr Howard's supporters expect him to be more robust in tackling the prime minister but with a massive parliamentary majority, Mr Blair remains hot favourite to win a third successive general election, probably in 2005.