The Tory deputy leader in the Lords, Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, who resigned after being appalled by William Hague's sacking of Viscount Cranborne, spoke of his confusion.

He said: "I'm certainly just bewildered by what happened and I just don't understand the basis on which Robert Cranborne was sacked."

Another senior Lords front-bencher told BBC News Online: "It actually wasn't a bad deal at all, as it happens."

He added: "If this had been handled properly, we could have had Blair on the ropes."

He expressed doubts about Mr Hague's leadership and advisers.

"Some of the people around William are overly gung-ho. The parliamentary party is completely different from the Lords.

"William should've realised if you send a Cecil [Viscount Cranborne] to do a deal, a deal will be done."

Lord Cranborne, the Tory Lords leader, was dismissed on Wednesday after brokering a deal with Labour over Lords reform without Mr Hague's authority.

Mr Hague has since signalled that he is prepared to accept the outcome of the negotiations which could see a rump of hereditary peers remain in the Lords during phase one of plans to reform the upper chamber.

Lord Fraser said: "Whether it will have a wider effect I don't know, but certainly it has left those of us who have been supporting Mr Hague very loyally in the Lords just not sure which way to turn."

The sacking is creating strains between Tory MPs and their colleagues in the Lords.

The parliamentary party is backing Mr Hague fully while many in the Lords are upset of Lord Cranborne's dismissal believing his deal with Labour was worth backing.

As as result Mr Hague may find maintaining discipline in the Lords in future a problem.

When Lord Cranborne was sacked the whole Tory frontbench in the upper chamber offered to resign in support of their chief.

Mr Hague said: "They did so out of loyalty to Lord Cranborne and concern about the whole issue. I have refused those resignations."

The Tory leader justified the sacking saying he was attempting to restore discipline within the party but one senior peer, Earl Onslow later warned his leader that peers were used to the party whip being used very lightly in the Lords.