Former British Prime Minister Mr John Major has backed shadow chancellor Mr Michael Portillo in his bid to become leader of the Conservative party.
Mr Portillo (48) announced his candidacy for the party leadership last Wednesday after the resignation of Mr William Hague.
Mr Major threw his weight behind Mr Portillo's candidacy on a BBC television programe, applauding his view that the party should give more weight to the need to improve Britain's public services.
"I think it is a good idea to reinhabit [sic] the centre ground and I think the things that Michael is saying is an indication he has learnt that," Mr Major told BBC's Breakfast with Frost, to be screened later this morning.
"Michael seems to have gone on a long journey from where he was to where I was, and I thoroughly welcome that," Mr Major said.
Mr Portillo's hand would be further strengthened if rival Ann Widdecombe ruled out a bid for the leadership - as several papers this morning report she is considering.
The Independent on Sundaysays Ms Widdecombe, the shadow home secretary, would back former chancellor MrKenneth Clarke as the candidate to stop Mr Portillo winning the leadership.
Ms Widdecombe on Wednesday said she would not serve in the shadow cabinet if Portillo were to be chosen as the Conservative Party's new leader. She said his cabinet would be full of backbiters.
Mr Clarke, the party's leading proponent of British entry into the European single currency zone, has yet to declare whether he is to stand against Mr Portillo.
"I'm not quite sure that a party that has just fought a ferociously Eurosceptic campaign is ready to be led by a pro-European," Mr Clarke told the Independent.
The right wing of the party is said to be providing at least two anti-euro challengers to Mr Portillo.
Mr David Davis MP, is poised to join the race as is shadow defence spokesman Mr Ian Duncan-Smith, worrying some Conservatives the party right will be split, allowing Mr Portillo an easy victory.
Neither MrSmith nor Mr Davis have declared their candidacies but are expected to do so next week, papers said.
Under new party rules, Tory MPs will vote to narrow the field of candidates down to two before party members choose their leader.
The Sunday Expressthis morning is reporting that Mr Portillo has secured the support of 100 of the 166 Tory MPs. The goal of his opponents is to finish second and defeat him in the run-off ballot of 300,000 party members nationwide, the paper reported.
