The Shadow Education Secretary undid the damage caused by the Question Time debate a fortnight ago and reassured those concerned about his ability in head-to-head debates. He won over a number of the undecided and pleased many of the party faithful.

Mr Davis wooed the crowd at the Walkers Stadium, home to Leicester City FC, with a powerful speech, and scored victories on defence and other core Conservative issues, but, despite a strong performance from both candidates, Mr Cameron appeared to be the victor.

According to ten randomly selected Tory members interviewed by The Times afterwards, six will vote for Mr Cameron, three for Mr Davis and one remained undecided. Three of the Cameron votes were won during yesterday’s hustings and Mr Davis’s performance only convinced one floating voter.

It was the little things that swung it. Despite being ridiculed for arriving 40 minutes late to the Question Time debate, Mr Davis again failed to turn up on time because of traffic. Eleven o’clock came and went with no sign of the Shadow Home Secretary, who blamed the Leicester one-way system when he emerged nearly 15 minutes later.

Once the debate was under way, Mr Davis remained behind the podium and read his opening speech, some thought woodenly, from notes. Mr Cameron abandoned the stand and spoke without script or a microphone.

Several people noted how Mr Davis’s anecdotes tended to focus on the past, while Mr Cameron spoke of his vision for the future. “I find Davis tends to talk about what he has done, not what he is going to do,” Pauline Latham, a councillor, from Derby, said.

Yesterday’s event, which was open only to card-carrying party members who had registered in advance, lasted about 90 minutes and was chaired by Paul Marland, the former MP for the Forest of Dean.

Mr Davis received his biggest applause for remarks on defence. Mr Cameron was cheered for saying that he would bring William Hague, who announced his backing over the weekend, back into the Shadow Cabinet.

After the event Mr Davis went on the attack, telling the BBC that he had “won” the debate and criticising his opponent’s lack of policies. “I want to see a highly principled, very clear Conservative line,” he said. “David wants to take a bit more time over some of the policies. I think it’s very important we start our arguments now.”

Instead of attacking his opponent, Mr Cameron emphasised his broad support. “I think there is a growing consensus for change. I have 109 MPs behind me, William Hague and Liam Fox and most of the Shadow Cabinet.”

• Secret plans detailing how David Cameron intends to win the leadership of the Tory party have been recovered after being stolen from the back of an aide’s car. An opportunist thief broke into a Mercedes belonging to the MP Tobias Ellwood and snatched a laptop case containing sensitive campaign plans. It was later found in a hedge by a member of the public.

  TIMES JURY

• “I have got to say David Cameron won it today for me because he is the only one with a vision for where the party is going.”
  Pauline Latham, 57, chairwoman of Derby City Conservatives

  “David Davis was very strong and steady but appeared to be stuck to his notes and seemed a bit slow in response to questions. He knows his stuff but David Cameron was more fluent and convincing.”
  Nick Halewood, 19, Student from Nottingham University

  “Having seen him together with David Davis, it is clear there is not much between them, but I still feel David Cameron would have a better chance of winning a general election.”
  Jennifer King, 43, nurse and mother from Market Harborough

  “I was going to vote for David Cameron but when I saw David Davis’s performance I was impressed and am going home to vote for him.”
  Freda Hurst, a pensioner from Charnwood

  “Mr Davis’s sense of humour impresses me. Cameron was very vague on national sovereignty.”
  Ravinder Taylor, 60, a former teacher and member since 1996

  “both are keen to help the poorer sections of society so they can improve their lives. ”
  Christine Ward, 65, retired, from Desborough, Northamptonshire

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