Conservatives reject leadership rules change

Plans to reform the Conservative party’s leadership election rules have been defeated in a vote.

The ballot of the party’s 1,133 strong electoral college failed to secure the votes needed to introduce the reforms, which were backed by current Tory leader Michael Howard.

Although the ballot secured the necessary two-thirds majority of MPs, it failed to secure two-thirds of the party activists’ vote.

The planned reforms would have made the final choice of who becomes party leader the responsibility of the party’s MPs.

However, the failure of the vote means that the party’s 300,000 strong membership will decide the outcome of the leadership contest.

The rejection of the proposals means that the leadership contest is likely to be prolonged, with the prospect of a new leader not being in place until the end of year.

Michael Howard is due to step down as Conservative leader after next week’s party conference.

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis, who is the current favourite to succeed Mr Howard, is popular with MPs and was widely predicted to gain a comfortable win if the vote had gone in favour of the reforms.

However, former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke, who is believed to be more popular with party members, could benefit if the leadership contest is decided under the existing rules.

(KMcA/SP)