Davis: No summer plot to oust Howard
David Davis has called on Conservative Party colleagues to unite behind Michael Howard until the leadership contest rules are formally announced.
The Shadow Home Secretary is hotly-tipped to succeed Mr Howard when the leadership rules are finally fleshed out later in the year, probably around the time of the party’s annual conference.
Mr Howard announced his decision to stand down the day after the Tories lost their third successive general election.
But some Tories believe Mr Howard should go sooner rather than later.
Mr Davis, Haltemprice and Howden MP, dismissed suggestions he was ready to step in and oust Mr Howard over the summer.
Although his party faced “serious decisions”, Mr Davis told The Sunday Telegraph, it ought to do so in a “calm frame of mind”.
“I hope we can do that and also return to the fray in attacking the Labour Party, which is now more exposed than it has been for some time.”
Mr Davis is 11-8 favourite to win the Tory leadership, according to bookies William Hill.
William Hague is 3-1 second favourite, David Cameron 5-1, George Osborne 8-1 and Ken Clarke, Dr Liam Fox and Malcolm Rifkind long shots at 10-1.
