Tory truce nears end

Conservative leadership hopeful Ken Clarke is returning to Britain from holiday as the two-week summer truce in his battle with Iain Duncan Smith draws to a close.

Hostilities are set to resume on Wednesday, although some low-level campaigning has taken place, on and off, throughout the break.

Key dates

15 August: Truce ends

20 August: Ballot papers sent out

22 August: First hustings

7 September: Last hustings

11 September: Ballot closes

12 September: Result announced

A row is already brewing over how the contest should be run over the next four weeks as the party's 300,000 members cast their votes.

It is being suggested Mr Clarke wanted to go head-to-head with Mr Smith at eight party hustings across the country but instead they will appear separately.

The candidates will have 45 minutes each to address party members and answer questions.

The pair will only appear alongside each other in a televised debate on BBC Two's Newsnight.

Supporters of Mr Clarke - who has spent his fortnight off birdwatching in Australia - accuse his rival of wanting to avoid debate.

But Mr Smith's team believe their rivals are crying foul because they have been unable to fix as many meetings with party members.

The two men plan to spend as much time as possible campaigning around the country before the ballot by one member, one vote closes on 11 September.

William Hague's successor as Conservative leader will be announced the following day.

Hustings schedule

The leadership hustings, organised by Conservative Central Office, are open to party members only.

Wednesday 22 August: The Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, Westminster, London at 1300 BST.

Friday 24 August: The Burgess Hall, St Ivo Recreation Centre, Westwood Road, St Ives, Cambridge at 1915 BST.

Tuesday 28 August: The Bacon Theatre, Dean Close School, Cheltenham at 1900 BST.

Wednesday 29 August: The Hawth Theatre, Hawth Avenue, Crawley, West Sussex at 1900 BST.

Monday 3 September: The Guildhall, Armada Way, Plymouth at 1900 BST.

Tuesday 4 September: Stockport Town Hall, Wellington Road South, Stockport at 1900 BST.

Thursday 6 September: The Tregonwell Hall, Bournemouth International Conference Centre at 1900 BST.

Friday 7 September: The Harrogate Grammar School, Arthur Avenue, Harrogate at 1900 BST.