Michael Ancram is a charming aristocrat.

Heir to the Marquess of Lothian, he is married to the daughter of a Duke and is himself an Earl, but he prefers to be known as plain Mister.

A barrister by profession, a farmer and has also been a public relations man.

Has had an on-and-off political career (Devizes is his third constituency and the first safe one, after defeats in Scotland), with solid ministerial experience.

He has served at the Scottish Office under Mrs Thatcher (when he was in charge of the poll tax there) and the Northern Ireland Office under John Major (when he showed a talent for conciliation with all parties).

In William Hague's first shadow cabinet, he spearheaded the fight against the referendum and devolution bills, in the absence of Tory MPs in Scotland.

In the first reshuffle, in June 1998, Mr Hague made him deputy chairman of the party, with a seat in the shadow cabinet, with a view to eventually succeeding Lord Parkinson, who was brought back in 1997 to get the party back into shape after the general election defeat.

Mr Ancram is a Roman Catholic moderate, pro-devolution, pro-Europe and pro-proportional representation.