Former British foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind withdrew today from the race for the leadership of the Conservative Party.
Sir Malcolm Rifkind
Sir Malcolm had received the public support of seven MPs but was trailing badly in polls of Conservative activists and voters.
His departure leaves four men in the race to succeed Michael Howard - bookies' favourite David Cameron, former chancellor Kenneth Clarke, shadow home secretary David Davis and shadow foreign secretary Liam Fox.
The Clarke team hope Sir Malcolm will now back his former Cabinet colleague, who is also from the "one nation" tradition of Conservatism, but there is speculation at Westminster that he may be planning to thrown his weight behind Mr Cameron.
PA
