TORY leader and Kent MP Michael Howard says he will stand down "sooner rather than later" to allow a younger leader to take over the party.

Mr Howard said he would stay as leader until the party had the opportunity to consider whether it wanted to change the rules for electing a successor.

He said the party could "hold its head up high" after its performance in the general election.

Mr Howard, who retained his seat at Folkestone and Hythe, there must never be a return to the "bickering and backstabbing of the past".

He said his age meant he could not lead the party into the next general election.

"I'm 63 years old. At the time of the next election in four or five years' time I'll be 67 or 68 and I believe that's simply too old to lead a party into government."