IT may have taken three months and ruined the summer holidays of many a Tory activist, but the man who organised the party's leadership contest believes it went well.

In an interview with ePolitix.com, Sir Michael Spicer, chairman of the Conservative Party's 1922 committee, said the system created by William Hague was not perfect.

But he added: ''Any democratic contest with a large public vote will have an element of messiness about it, but I think it went pretty well.''

He admitted, though, that the party will also have to consider what happens when - as in the first ballot - two candidates tie.

''Some of the rules could be tidied up, especially the issue of the tie. I do think we need a new rule as to what happens in the event of a tie.''

Meanwhile, the West Worcestershire MP had bad news for any new MPs hoping for a quick promotion to the front benches.

''I do think that there should be an element of winning one's spurs. I think it's important to have the chance to shine on the back benches and in the chamber, because that's where they should be to begin with,'' Sir Michael said.

''Once you start becoming a front bench spokesman, particularly in a small party as we are at the moment, there are many distractions away from the chamber. I think that's wrong for people in their very early stages here.

''We want more people to be taking an interest in the chamber, but also seeing it as a way of making a name for themselves.''