Duncan Smith claims 'underdog' role

Iain Duncan Smith has insisted he is the "underdog" in the race to become Conservative leader despite topping two separate polls of Tory constituency chairmen.

A survey of 201 local constituency chairmen put the right-winger ahead of rival Ken Clarke, with Mr Duncan Smith gaining 40% of the support, and the pro-European former chancellor 36%.

Just because Michael has fallen, that doesn't mean the agenda has fallen with him

Archie Norman MP

According to the survey, commissioned by the Sunday Times, the contest remains wide open with 24% of the chairmen saying they are "undecided".

But Mr Duncan Smith told the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme: "I still believe that I am the underdog."

Both candidates now face a summer of wooing the Tory rank and file ahead of the first ever postal vote of the party membership in a leadership contest.

However, both Mr Clarke and Mr Duncan Smith have agreed to a truce for the first two weeks of August to allow them to take a holiday.

Another survey conducted by Mori for the Mail on Sunday, polled 100 constituency chairmen in Conservative strongholds where membership is concentrated.

The survey found 46% backing Mr Duncan Smith, against just 28% for Mr Clarke.

Duncan Smith ahead?

When asked how they believed their members would vote, 49% went for the shadow defence secretary Mr Duncan Smith, with just 15% saying the former chancellor would win their support.

Meanwhile, supporters of rejected leadership candidate Michael Portillo have stated their wish to keep alive his vision of an "inclusive" party.

Shadow transport secretary Archie Norman, who says many other MPs share his views, said the Tories needed "a change of attitude", not simply new policies.

The former Asda boss said neither of the remaining leadership candidates had grasped the scale of change which the party must undergo.

But Mr Norman's comments in the Daily Telegraph suggest that the candidate who eventually wins may face backbench opposition from MPs who supported Mr Portillo.

Agenda alive

He told the newspaper: "Just because Michael has fallen, that doesn't mean the agenda has fallen with him.

"There was an agenda that ran beyond Michael Portillo and that is an agenda which will run on.

"The change which we need to make isn't superficial, it's fundamental."

Mr Norman said that discussions were already under way to create a think-tank and pressure group to move forward Mr Portillo's agenda of modernising the party and opening it up to people from all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities and homosexuals.