Bookies tip David Davis to win leadership contest
David Davis is the bookies favourite to win the race to succeed Michael Howard as leader of the Conservative Party.
Bearing his age in mind, Mr Howard yesterday said it was in the “best interests” of his party that he stepped down as he would 67 or 68 by the time the next election comes around.
Although securing 197 seats, the Tories lost their third consecutive election on Thursday.
In the wake of the defeat, Mr Howard said he would resign as soon as the leadership contest rules were set out.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis is 5/2 favourite with Ladbrokes, while William Hill are offering odds of 3/1.
Although he failed to win a leadership bid in 2001, he has grown in political stature since then and analysts have tipped him as a potential leader in the past, and more so after he oversaw off Immigration Minister Beverley Hughes, who resign over a row over visas.
Mr Davis narrowly won his Haltemprice and Howden seat on Thursday.
Party chairman Dr Liam Fox is also among a crop of candidates linked to the upcoming vacancy.
Ladbrokes has Dr Fox at 6/1, with David Cameron at 9/1 and Andrew Lansley, Shadow Health Secretary, at 10/1.
Former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, who returns to the Commons as the new MP for Kensington and Chelsea, is also among the early contenders.
John Redwood, Kenneth Clarke, George Osborne and Tim Yeo also have admirers on the Tory backbenchers.
But Oliver Letwin, Shadow Chancellor, said he has “no intention” of standing for the leadership.
Former leader William Hague is a long shot at 14/1 with William Hill.
