21/10/2005

Cameron and Davis begin battle for Tory leadership

David Cameron and David Davis are preparing to go to head-to-head in the final battle for the Conservative party leadership.

Mr Cameron remains the bookie’s favourite, after he topped the poll in the MPs second ballot with 90 votes. Mr Davis came second with 57 votes, while Dr Liam Fox came third with 51 votes and was eliminated.

Mr Cameron and Mr Davis will now begin a six-week campaign for votes amongst the party’s 300,000-strong membership, who will decide who will become party leader.

Mr Cameron will begin his campaign with a visit to Brent South. He will also attend a meeting in his Oxfordshire constituency and participate in an Internet webcast.

The Shadow Education Secretary said that he was “looking forward” to taking his message around the country. He said: “It is going to be a lot of hard work, but I am very excited by it. I want to be a voice for change, for optimism and for hope in this country.”

However, Mr Davis, who began the leadership contest as the favourite to succeed Michael Howard, has insisted that he will continue the fight to be named party leader. He said: “There is a long time to go in this contest yet, still another six weeks. I intend to fight for my beliefs.”

The Shadow Home Secretary will begin his campaign by returning to his old university at Warwick.

Conservative party members will choose the new leader in a postal ballot, which closes on December5.

The new party leader is expected to be announced on December 6.

(KMcA/SP)

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