Change to Tory leadership rules voted down
Michael Howard’s plan to change the way the Conservative leader is selected has been voted down by MPs and senior party activists.
The proposed changes would have seen only MPs – and not party members – selecting the new leader.
This means the contest to choose the next Tory leader will be held under the existing rules, with MPs choosing two candidates to go to a final vote among grassroots activists.
Party chairman Francis Maude had warned that a decision in favour of no change could mean the party was left leaderless until the new year.
Michael Howard had also urged party members to back his plan, devised to prevent the election of someone popular with the party but unpopular with the country.
But the proposed changes were controversial, with some suggesting it is a regressive, anti-democratic move.
And leading figures in the party, such as shadow families secretary Theresa May had argued for no change to the rules.
The result could affect the outcome of the eventual leadership election as well as the timing of the contest.
Former chancellor Ken Clarke is expected to fair better under the existing system than under Mr Howard’s proposals.
And Mr Clarke’s campaign was bolstered today as 30 Tory candidates at the last election publicly endorsed his leadership bid in a letter to the Daily Telegraph.
The candidates, including Sir John Major’s former press secretary Sheila Gunn, say in the letter: “The electorate are telling us that the Conservative party would be mad not to elect Ken Clarke to lead it.”
Mr Howard is expected to quit as leader after the Conservative Party conference next week.
