JOHN Redwood's fight for the Conservative leadership received a dramatic boost yesterday from former party chairman Lord Tebbit, the most senior Tory yet to endorse his campaign.
He said he would advise colleagues to vote for the former Welsh Secretary on Tuesday, claiming Mr Redwood's ideas on opposing closer ties with the European Union were absolutely right.
Lord Tebbit, the architect of the Conservative victory at the 1987 election, said Mr Redwood was the true inheritor of the Thatcherite crown.
'He has brains, courage and humour,' he said.
'It is contemptible for the Major camp to try to rubbish him. The Prime Minister has had his chance. His policy is not good enough to win the next election. If I were still in the Commons, I would vote for John Redwood.' Mr Major's backers had so far been delighted the only senior figure to come out pointedly in favour of Mr Redwood was the former Chancellor Norman Lamont.
The Tebbit move came as there was further speculation at Westminster that other senior figures, including former Home Secretary Kenneth Baker and ex-Cabinet minister John Patten, might also be preparing to come out in favour of Mr Redwood.
Mr Major's position was also undermined when Health Secretary Virginia Bottomley declared she would be prepared to work in a Redwood Cabinet.