Ancram bows out of Tory leadership race
Deputy Tory leader Michael Ancram has ruled himself out of the Conservative Party leadership contest “as long as Michael Howard remains the sole candidate”.
The shadow chancellor and former home secretary is the runaway favourite to become the next Tory leader after Iain Duncan Smith’s dramatic ousting last night.
Mr Howard will formally announce his candidacy later this afternoon, at around 15:30 BST, shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox has confirmed.
Dr Fox denied Mr Howard had struck any deals for his potential shadow cabinet. He is rumoured to be the shadow chancellor’s campaign manager.
Last night a number of figures tipped to run for the vacant post voiced their support for Mr Howard’s candidacy. Shadow health secretary Dr Fox, shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin and former cabinet minister Stephen Dorrell released a joint press statement shortly after it was announced that Mr Duncan Smith had lost the leadership ballot supporting 62-year-old Mr Howard’s candidacy.
Shadow deputy prime minister David Davis also ruled himself out of the running, stating that he had opted to “step aside” in favour of Mr Howard to prevent more infighting.
Tim Yeo, tipped to stand as a representative of the Conservative left, also said he would not stand.
The Tories are acutely aware of the need to unite as a party and provide an effective opposition, particularly with the next General Election just 18 months away.
Even Ann Widdecombe, who famously scuppered Mr Howard’s 1997 leadership bid by saying there was “something of the night” about him has confirmed that she would support him if he becomes party leader.
However, the 156,000 party members who elected Mr Duncan Smith as leader are reported to be furious over the leadership challenge.
Tory MPs voted against their Mr Duncan Smith by 90 to 75 in a vote of confidence on Wednesday afternoon after months of speculation about his position.
Immediately after the vote of confidence result was announced, Mr Duncan Smith said: “I will stand down as leader when a successor has finally been chosen.”
He thanked his family colleagues and volunteers and his wife, Betsy, adding that he was proud of his policies and was sorry not to be leading the party into the next General Election.
Nominations for the post of Tory leader close on Thursday November 6th and the first ballot of MPs will be held on Tuesday November 11th.
