Cameron gets red light from Widdecombe

And she took a sideswipe at his trip to war-torn Rwanda, where he will be photographed working on aid projects, saying: 'I'm not sure many voters know where Rwanda is.'

The Tories' poor performance in last week's two parliamentary by-elections, combined with policy blunders and Gordon Brown's solid start as Prime Minister, have triggered Mr Cameron's first major crisis as party leader.

Rumours are rife at Westminster that three Tory MPs have written to Sir Michael Spicer, chairman of the party's backbench 1922 Committee, calling for a vote of no confidence in Mr Cameron. Sir Michael refused to comment.

And while there is no serious threat to Mr Cameron's position, there were claims that supporters of William Hague will call for him to be restored as leader if the party loses the next General Election.

Miss Widdecombe said: 'We must not lose our nerve and there is an underlying goodwill towards David Cameron. He has been very successful in getting support from people who previously would not have looked at us. But he must now pay a great deal of attention to shoring up our traditional vote.

'People want us to produce firm and clear policies on issues which worry them most - law and order, immigration and the health service.

'There is nothing he can do in a few days that should stop him going ahead with his visit to Rwanda. And some of his photocalls have been very effective in the past. Having said that, I'm not sure many voters know where Rwanda is.'

Miss Widdecombe was supported by Right-wing Tory MP David Davies, who said: 'The by-elections were clearly very bad for us. David Cameron has produced excellent policies on the environment and equality but we must also ensure that people know we are the party that still believes in strong policies on crime, immigration and the creeping takeover of Britain by Brussels.'

Tory MPs were more outspoken in private. 'We didn't expect Brown to do so well and the people around David don't know what to do, said one. Gimmicks aren't enough.'

Others were furious with Mr Cameron for renaming the party as 'David Cameron's Conservatives' on ballot papers in the Ealing by-election, where it came third.

'It was an outrageous piece of arrogance and it serves him right that it blew up in his own face,' said a veteran MP. 'He needs to show a little more humility.'

One of Mr Cameron's Tory MP critics said: 'Two members of Mr Cameron's front-bench team and one backbencher have told me they have written to Sir Michael Spicer expressing grave concern at the direction of the party under Mr Cameron and the kind of people he has around him.'

One Shadow Minister did not conceal his contempt for his leader. 'I would be surprised if it is only three who have written to complain,' he said. 'There is a great deal of dissatisfaction around.'

The sense of alarm has been compounded by the sudden resignation of Tory campaigns chief George Bridges. They were reports that Mr Bridges, a former aide to John Major, was unhappy with changes in Mr Cameron's private office.