British Conservative leader Michael Howard reneged on a secret agreement not to quit in the wake of the party's general election defeat, the Independent on Sunday newspaper has reported.
The Tory leader is facing a growing chorus of criticism for opening his party to months of internal strife by announcing he would quit "sooner rather than later".
Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Michael Heseltine called on the Tory leader to stay in the post for up to 18 months.
"What I hope Michael will do is stay on long enough for a certain number of things to take place before we choose a new leader," he said.
Howard has enraged grassroots Tories by going back on an agreement he made at the time of his election that he would not go immediately if the party failed to win.
The Tory leader is expected to meet the party's ruling body later this month at what promises to be a stormy session. It is angry that he has pre-empted the results of an internal review and exposed the Conservatives to months of debilitating internal strife.
Howard's call for a review of the leadership rules is being interpreted as an attempt to undermine David Davis, the favourite to succeed him. Davis is thought to have strong backing among the party's membership but is less popular with his own parliamentary colleagues.
Under current rules, MPs vote on two candidates, who are then presented to the rank-and-file in a national vote. On the only occasion the system has been used, Iain Duncan Smith emerged victorious - a fact that led to pressure for reform.
A secret review of all aspects of the party's constitution has been taking place, but no conclusions have been reached.
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Howard angers Tories by reneging on secret no-quit deal
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