Tory leadership rivals clash
The Conservative leadership contest has shifted up a gear, with top leadership candidates publicly criticising each other’s policies.
David Cameron launched a scathing attack on his two main rivals – Ken Clarke and David Davis – warning that the party could face political disaster should either man be appointed.
But former chancellor Mr Clarke has said the youthful shadow education secretary should quit the contest, and join either his camp or that of right-winger David Davis.
The increasing tension between the rivals for the Tory crown comes days before the party announces the results of a ballot on rules for the leadership contest. Michael Howard’s proposals would give MPs the final say, and not party members.
Mr Cameron predicted the party would be engaging in a form of “national suicide” should it go down the pro-European path advocated by Mr Clarke.
He also warned the party’s fortunes would see little improvement under the tutelage of a right-winger such as David Davis, saying the Tories would “sleepwalk to another defeat”.
“I am worried that we will sleepwalk to another defeat if the choice is between staying on a right-wing agenda, more of the same, I think that way we will not show we have changed and won’t be engaging the issues people want,” he told GMTV’s Sunday Programme.
But John Bercow, a backer of Mr Clarke’s campaign, described the notion that a vote for the former chancellor could spell ‘national suicide’ as “the most ludicrous hyperbole” he had heard in any leadership contest.
And Mr Clarke, on ITV1’s Jonathan Dimbleby programme, said the shadow education secretary should quit the race and “join one or other of the main contenders”.
Mr Clarke also expressed confidence in his chances third time around. When asked if he thought he would win, he replied: “I think I will, actually”.
Meanwhile, another leadership hopeful, Liam Fox, has called for the tax burden on hard-working people to be reduced.
Shadow home secretary Mr Davis and Mr Cameron will both officially launch their campaigns on Thursday.
The Conservative party’s annual conference takes place next week in Blackpool.
