Bookmakers are placing Horsham MP Francis Maude in the running to replace Iain Duncan Smith as Conservative Party leader.

Ladbrokes began offering odds of 25/1 on Mr Maude after suspending betting that Mr Duncan Smith would go by the end of the year.

Mr Maude, a former shadow chancellor, has given no indication he wants the party leadership.

He announced he was returning to the backbenches after his close ally, Michael Portillo, lost the Tory leadership contest in 2001.

He had served as shadow foreign secretary under William Hague in the run up to that year's General Election loss to Labour.

But Ladbrokes still make Mr Maude 11th favourite to takeover if Mr Duncan Smith quits or is booted out by MPs.

The favourite is David Davis, the shadow deputy prime minister, at 11/4.

Next is former chancellor Kenneth Clarke at 3/1, along with party chairman Theresa May.

Mr Portillo is 6/1, with shadow chancellor Michael Howard at 8/1 and shadow health secretary Liam Fox at 12/1.

Ladbrokes spokesman Warren Lush said: "Punters believe the end is nigh for IDS. Bookmakers are under attack from malevolent forces and stand to pay out more than £50,000 if he goes before the end of the year."

Mr Duncan Smith has been fighting off claims of a "plot" to undermine his leadership. Now he is under fresh pressure amid claims he improperly paid his wife, Betsy, for secretarial work.

Mr Maude himself stated the leadership of the party remained an "issue".

Speaking two weeks ago, before the conference in Blackpool, he said: "We ought to be doing better than we are. I don't think anyone has any illusions about that."