Margaret Thatcher was an Iain Duncan Smith backer

Lady Thatcher - who backed Mr Duncan Smith - came under intense criticism during the summer-long leadership campaign from another former Tory premier John Major.

He came out in favour of Mr Clarke and rounded on Lady Thatcher, whom he accused her of causing "immense damage" by stoking up rebellion on Europe during his premiership.

During the campaign Lady Thatcher, whose own premiership ended when she was ousted by her own party, said she would be staying away from this year's Blackpool conference.

Her own time in power was overshadowed by criticism from her predecessor Ted Heath whom she ousted as Tory leader.

It was a trait she continued with thinly disguised attacks on Mr Major whom she failed to back when his leadership was unsuccessfully challenged by another Eurosceptic, John Redwood.

Tory poll

Mr Clarke was defeated by Iain Duncan Smith last week in a poll of Tory party members.

The winner scooped 61% of the votes to Mr Clarke's 39%.

Since then Mr Duncan Smith has appointed a shadow cabinet that has seen nearly all the prominent jobs go to Eurosceptics.

Mr Clarke refused to be drawn on his former rival's choice of frontbench line up.

As the most prominent Tory backer of the euro, it is certain that his shadow cabinet would have taken on a different complexion.

Last week was the second time Mr Clarke has missed out on the Tory leadership.

After John Major's defeat in 1997 Mr Clarke lost out to William Hague.

Mr Hague in turn decided to step down as Tory leader after the crushing defeat the party suffered at the General Election in June this year.