The shadow home secretary is facing increased competition for his marginal Haltemprice and Howden seat at the election, with the latest candidate all but sharing his name.

David Davis (the Conservative shadow Cabinet member and potential future party leader) only has a 1,903 majority over the Liberal Democrats and the new Veritas party has just selected its own nominee: David Davies.

Davies will also come above Davis on the ballot paper in a move which could confuse the electorate and split the euroscpetic vote.

The Tory is already the number one target for tactical vote campaigners and is working hard to avoid the fate of Chris Patten in 1992 and Michael Portillo in 1997 in losing his seat just as his career is peaking.

Launching Veritas' policy programme yesterday, MEP Robert Kilroy-Silk said he wants an end to "mass immigration" to stop low-paid foreign workers forcing British people out of work.