NORTH East Hampshire MP James Arbuthnot is backing Michael Howard as the new leader of the Conservative Party - but only after checking with local party members over whether he should support him or not.

After the Iain Duncan Smith confidence vote last week, Mr Arbuthnot refused to say which way he had voted or who he backed for the Tory party leadership.

Then on Friday, as Mr Howard emerged as the only leadership candidate, Mr Arbuthnot said: "Yesterday, I asked senior members of the North East Hampshire Conservatives for their views on whether I should support Michael Howard as leader of the Conservative Party.

"I am delighted to say that the replies I had were unanimously in favour. That entirely accords with my own views. I have therefore told Michael Howard that I am fully behind his leadership."

He added: "This is good news in two different ways. First, it is good because Michael Howard is a person of immense experience, ability and energy. He will be able to revitalise the Conservatives and inject new vigour into the way we oppose this Labour Government, both in Parliament and in the country.

"Secondly, it is good because at long last Conservatives have recognised the need to pull together in order to have greater effect. A united Conservative Party supporting a leader we agree on will be a very strong force indeed.

"Now we can get on and do the thing we were elected to do - namely to form a credible opposition and, I hope, in a very short time, a strong Conservative government."

As reported in The Basingstoke Extra's sister paper The Gazette last week, North West Hampshire MP Sir George Young is also backing Mr Howard.

Any candidate planning to oppose Mr Howard has until tomorrow to put himself or herself forward. If there is no opposition to him, Mr Howard will be declared the new party leader.