Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the Tory constitutional affairs spokesman Dr Liam Fox acknowledged that a "gap" had developed between the party in the Lords and their counterparts in the Commons.

Dr Liam Fox, speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, details Tory plans for Lords reform

He said he would be working with the new Tory leader in the Lords, Lord Strathclyde "to reduce the gap that opened up between the Conservative 1922 [committee] backbenchers in the Commons and the Conservative peers".

Hague sacked Lord Cranborne last week

Relations between the two branches of the party became strained last week after Mr Hague sacked Viscount Cranborne for brokering a deal on Lords reform with the government without Mr Hague's authority.

The deal, which would have kept 91 hereditary peers in Parliament temporarily, had the wide backing of Tory peers while MPs gave their support to Mr Hague's tough approach to party discipline.

The row rumbled on over the weekend as peers criticised Mr Hague's handling of the crisis and publicly backed Lord Cranborne.

One rebel peer accused Mr Hague's aides of "poisoning the reputation" of the sacked Lords leader as it emerged that he had met with the prime minister's chief press secretary, Alastair Campbell.

Lord Fraser: "Filled with gloom"

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie said: "It fills me with some gloom that William Hague's office seem to be intent on poisoning Robert Cranborne's reputation rather than reflecting on how best working relationships with Tory peers in the Lords might be re-established."

Another senior peer and former minister, Lord St John of Fawsley, sounded a warning to the Tory leadership imploring them not to be "stupid" in trying to sabotage the deal negotiated by Lord Cranborne.

But the Tory leader insisted he had been forced to sack Lord Cranborne for "going behind my back".

Speaking on Talk Radio on Sunday, he said that while it had been an "embarrassing couple of days for the party", its members were now in no doubt as to who was leader.