MANY Conservatives in West Devon and Torridge are exercising caution in the race to elect a new party leader — but it seems likely that most will plump for Shadow Defence spokesman Iain Duncan Smith because of his firm Euro sceptic views.

Geoffrey Cox, who fought the seat for the Tories at the election in June, said that at the moment his preference was for Mr Duncan Smith, but he would wait until he had heard both contenders speak at

meetings this week.

Mr Duncan Smith, who is on the right of the Tory Party, visited West Devon twice in the past year and his views on the Euro — he is firmly opposed to it — are in tune with those of Mr Cox.

Mr Cox said: 'The Euro is a factor, but it is not the only factor. We need to develop policies on the public services that grip the imagination and I think Iain Duncan Smith is talking the right language on that.

'If he continues to impress then I think most people in the party here and in the rest of the country will vote for him, but it will be very close.'

Newly elected constituency chairman James McInnes said he had yet to make up his mind whether to vote for former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke or Mr Duncan Smith.

'Kenneth Clarke is very experienced and would be very effective against Tony Blair at the Despatch Box, but a lot of people will find his views on Europe difficult to swallow,' said Mr McInnes.

'Iain Duncan Smith is a new face, but does he have the experience to take on the job of Leader of the Opposition?'

The constituency association's new president Geoffrey Cleverdon is another who is weighing up the choice.

'They are two very good Conservative politicians with differing views and that will have a tremendous bearing on the outcome,' he said.

Mr Cleverdon said his immediate opinion was that local party members would favour Mr Duncan Smith, but he now believed they would take more time before reaching a decision.

One man who is certain on how he will vote is Cllr Dick Eberlie, Conservative Group leader on West Devon Borough. He favours the pro-Euro Kenneth Clarke.

'He is a more experienced politician and a more effective operator who is more likely to bring the party out of the wilderness,' he said.

But Mr Eberlie believed the majority of the party's 1,100 members in West Devon would vote for Mr Duncan Smith because of his anti-Euro views.

Ballot papers will be sent out in mid-August, and must be returned by September 11. The winning candidate will be announced on September 12.