TORy grandees yesterday unanimously agreed a proposed new constitution for the party, including changes to the way its leader is chosen.

The proposals will be presented to Michael Howard's shadow cabinet and Conservative MPs today, before going out to a lengthy consultation process with rank and file members expected to last until September.

Among key changes are the return to MPs of the final say in the selection of a leader to succeed Mr Howard, who has said he wants to stand down by the end of this year.

And for the first time, the party's constitution will include a statement of fundamental Conservative beliefs, including a commitment to serving the entire nation, regardless of ethnic background, sex or religion.

Full details of the proposed constitution - agreed yesterday by the board of the party which brings together leading members of the voluntary, political and professional wings - will be published tomorrow.

Under the new rules for leadership contests, it is understood that any MP gaining the support of ten per cent of his parliamentary colleagues could be put forward as a candidate to the party's national Convention, which brings together about 900 local association chairmen and other senior party figures.

The Convention would vote on the candidates, ranking them in order of popularity, but it would be for MPs to make the final decision on who would become leader.

Party sources said that the Convention vote would give MPs a powerful guide as to the thinking of rank and file members.

Giving MPs the final say would ensure that the parliamentary party did not have a leader forced upon it who did not enjoy its confidence.

The proposals agreed yesterday are expected to remain subject to consultation until the end of July, following which there will be a postal ballot during the summer leading to a meeting of the Convention in September.

If approved by two-thirds of Convention members and MPs, the new constitution is expected to be adopted at the party's autumn conference, clearing the way for the selection of a new leader before Christmas.

After the Board's three and a half hour meeting at Conservative headquarters in Westminster, party chairman Francis Maude said: "The party has made enormous progress in the last year, but we know we need to go much further and to reach out to every community in the country.

"We have a simple ambition, which is that we become a party that genuinely can represent all Britain and all Britons."

The proposals may face opposition from large parts of the party rank and file, who were able for the first time in Conservative history to choose their leader in a ballot of all members in 2001.