THE former deputy prime minister, Mr Michael Heseltine, was described as "comfortable" yesterday after spending the night in hospital following a heart scare. On Saturday the bookies' favourite said he would not stand for the Tory leadership.
Mr Heseltine (64) was admitted to hospital on Saturday after suffering angina pains at his home following the gruelling six week election campaign.
He is expected to remain in Horton General Hospital, in Banbury, Oxfordshire, until tomorrow while doctors monitor his condition and ensure that he rests.
His wife, Anne, confirmed that the attack had effectively put an end to any hopes he may have had of the Tory leadership.
Speaking outside the hospital with her son Rupert (29) at her side, Mrs Heseltine said: "I am delighted he will not be standing. We have been mulling it over and I think the fact that this happened today, insignificant as it is, it is the final ... well, we will not do it."
Mrs Heseltine has insisted that her husband, who was taken to the hospital after suffering pains in his arms at breakfast, had not had a heart attack.
Mr Heseltine suffered a heart attack while on holiday in Venice in 1993 but claimed it was merely a minor attack and insisted he had recovered fully.
. With no Tory MPs in Scotland, Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, a former Conservative MP and government law officer, has urged his colleagues to consider not having a shadow Scottish Secretary.
Instead, the shadow leader of the House of Commons could deal with constitutional matters affecting Scotland, and issues like health could be covered by English shadow ministers "taking an interest" in what happened in their field in Scotland, he said yesterday.