Howard to bow out before Christmas
Conservatives leader Michael Howard will step down by Christmas, his spokesman has confirmed.
The statement came after Mr Howard unveiled his new Shadow Cabinet and after Tory donor Lord Kalms, president of Dixons and a former treasurer, branded Mr Howard a “lame duck” yesterday.
Tim Yeo and Nicolas Soames stepped both down from the Shadow Cabinet after the election defeat.
Following the defeat at the general election last Thursday, Mr Howard announced he would quit as he would be 67 or 68 at the next poll.
But he is expected to lead the party at the annual conference this year, as the new system for deciding the leadership is due to be fleshed out by October.
The spokesman said last night: “The party conference will be his last as leader.
“The leadership election will be held some time after that, and he hopes to be gone by Christmas.”
Mr Howard included George Osborne, the new Shadow Chancellor, and David Cameron, the new Shadow Education chief, is his new cabinet.
Both have been linked with the leadership post as have former Defence Secretary and newly-elected MP, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, shadowing David Blunkett at the Department for Work and Pensions, and Dr Liam Fox, Shadow Foreign Secretary.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis is also heavily tipped.
