IT may not be official yet but the race for the Tory leadership is well and truly under way.

On August 31 former Chancellor Ken Clarke became the latest politician to join the list of those aching to take over the Conservatives and put them back in power.

He confirmed at a meeting with his closest aides that he intends to have a final run at the job that eluded him in 1997 and 2001. He will present himself directly as the candidate with the qualifications to take the Conservatives back to power and prevent a fourth successive Labour term.

The bookmakers' odds on Mr Clarke have been slashed in recent days from 10-1 to 5-1. His two main opponents are David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, and David Cameron, the Shadow Education Secretary. Liam Fox, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, and Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the Shadow Pensions Secretary, look likely to remain in the race too.

There has been talk that Mr Clarke's actions may force his rivals into an earlier declaration than they intended, to avoid his campaign gaining increased momentum.

We spoke to our local Conservative MPs to find out who they are backing.

Desmond Swayne, MP for New Forest West, said: "The reality is that all the candidates haven't yet been declared. The race hasn't started.

"Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Ken Clarke have, but there's still David Davis, Liam Fox and David Cameron to formally declare.

"My inclination at this time is Liam Fox. I'm a friend of his and think he's excellent - a strong candidate. But I wouldn't be weeping into my Cornflakes if David Cameron or David Davies won because they are also strong candidates.

"But first we have to overcome this hurdle about whether to change the rules or not for choosing a new leader. With a heavy heart I have voted to change the rules back again but it has to get a two-third majority for this to happen, and that's no foregone conclusion.

"So we may yet have to choose the future leadership on the old rules of one man one vote which will take until Christmas."

Sir John Butterfill, MP for Bournemouth West, said: "I haven't quite decided yet but I think it will be David Cameron.

"I think we need a new younger face and he's a very clever chap. When I was working at the Department of Transport he was our senior advisor, he was also an advisor for John Major. I think there are only three serious candidates and they are Cameron, Davis and Clarke. I expect the others will fall by the wayside and they will go on to support one of them. I think it's about time we moved onto a new generation of leadership."

Robert Walter, MP for North Dorset, has given his support to Ken Clarke.

"I believe Ken Clarke is not only the most experienced candidate, he is the only man with the wider appeal needed to get the Conservatives back into government.

"It is obscene and ageist to say that Ken is too old. In a world where people are living longer and longer and we are encouraging people to retire later, he is most able and experienced candidate. He is younger than 40 per cent of my electors in North Dorset.

"The real issues that Ken Clarke will address are those that affect the British people, the delivery of public services in health and education, pensions, immigration and the economy. As a former Home Secretary, Health Secretary and Chancellor he is the man with experience to address all these issues."

First published: September 1, 2005