Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith was warned against sending mixed messages to the electorate after appointing a former member of the rightwing Monday Club to his frontbench team.

Angela Watkinson, MP for Upminster, was promoted to the whips office in the reshuffle.

Party insiders have warned that this move goes against plans for modernisation.

The revelation came on the same day that the party's foreign affairs spokesman, Alan Duncan, announced that he is gay.

Alan Duncan, who admitted his homosexuality yesterday, received backing from the party leadership.

Duncan Smith said that being gay would not block Duncan's advancement under his leadership, while new Tory chairman, Theresa May, said: "There are many people who will say this shows a Conservative party that has moved on. It's always been open, decent and tolerant."

However, Duncan did not receive universal backing.

Jean Searle, a former president of the voluntary wing of the party, told the BBC in Leeds: "I don't think the north of England has accepted it in the same way."

Meanwhile, in the southern true blue town of Reigate, the chairman of the Conservative Association was also disapproving.

Tony Collinson said: "I would not be happy if we had a gay candidate here - I would always go for a candidate who had a normal background."