York-born MP David Davis is poised to join the race for the Tory leadership, it emerged today.

Insiders expect the former Foreign Office Minister to declare his intention to challenge Michael Portillo later this week.

Mr Davis, who is the MP for Haltemprice and Howden, was born in York in December 1948 and was brought up by his mother, Elizabeth Brown, in the Walmgate area.

He took his name from his adoptive father Ronald Davis, a print worker. Ronald Davis married Elizabeth Brown when the MP was four years old and the family moved to South London.

Mr Davis is not widely-known among the general public - but is respected in Parliament for his work over the past four years as chairman of the influential Public Accounts Committee.

He shunned a frontbench job under ex-leader William Hague in order to harry the Government from the backbenches, having served as Minister for Europe under John Major.

A confirmed Euro sceptic in a Thatcherite mould, he is known to have support among the backbenches. But his leadership challenge could depend on whether Shadow Defence Secretary Ian Duncan Smith also opts to take on Mr Portillo.

Both men are on the Right of the party and could split the vote of similar minded MPs.

Shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe today confirmed she would not be a candidate for the leadership, blaming lack of support from fellow MPs for her decision.

Ms Widdecombe said she would have made regeneration of inner city areas one of her top priorities, with some "politically incorrect" policies.

But, speaking in east London, Ms Widdecombe said: "I shall not be putting my name forward."

Updated: 16:10 Monday, June 18, 2001