Tories await Howard’s ascendancy
A group of senior Tory MPs has declared its support for the Shadow Chancellor, Michael Howard, as the party looks for a new leader.
Conservative home affairs spokesman and one time leadership hopeful, Oliver Letwin, said Mr Howard was the ideal replacement for Iain Duncan Smith, who lost the internal party confidence vote last night.
It is believed Michael Ancram and Tim Yeo, who were set to enter the race, may step aside to support Howard.
The Quiet Man failed by 15 votes to get the 83 thumbs up required to prove he was the man to lead the Conservatives into the next general election. The result was 75 votes supporting IDS, 90 votes against.
Mr Howard may get the job by default as no other challenger appears prepared to vie for the top Tory job.
Moments after Duncan Smith’s admittance of defeat last night, David Davis, Tory party ex-chairman, had ruled himself out of the running.
I’ve decided not to run myself and to step aside, in favour of the candidate who I think is best equipped to unify our party,” he said.
“I judge that to be Michael Howard.”
And Oliver Letwin told the BBC: “I think Michael Howard can unite the party. I do not say that lightly, I do not say it because of some theory, I say it because people from all over the party, representing completely different attitudes within the party are gathering together to persuade him to stand and to back him.”
Tory MP Stephen Dorrell and health spokesman, Dr Liam Fox, both expressed the hope that Mr Howard would accept the challenge
Mr Dorrell said: ‘I very much hope Michael Howard runs for the leadership.
“I expressed the view some weeks ago that if there was a vacancy, it did seem to me important that whoever took over was somebody with authority and experience and who was able quickly to unite the party behind the strong leadership and the candidacy that was a viable alternative Prime Minister to the present Prim Minister.”
Dr Fox said Mr Howard was “a political heavyweight” who could “land a few blows on Tony Blair.”
Dr Fox said: “We hope that Michael will be thinking this evening not about himself, but as we have come to expect, of the country, and do what he thinks is right for the Conservative Party and the people of the United Kingdom, because he has always been a man to do his duty first and foremost.
“We urge him to run, we will support him and we look forward to him standing on the steps of Downing Street as the next Conservative prime minister.”
Critics have warned that should no other candidate throw his hat into the ring, questions will linger over the undemocratic procedure through which someone like Mr Howard came to power in the party.
The first leadership ballot will be held on Tuesday November 11th.
