News

MICHEAL HOWARD FACING OPEN REVOLT

Folkestone and Hythe MP  and Tory leader Michael Howard was facing an open revolt last night after senior Scottish Conservatives criticised his plans to strip party members of the final say in the forthcoming leadership contest.

Three members of Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie’s shadow Cabinet have spoken out against proposals to give MPs control over the selection system.

They believe the change will marginalise the Scottish Conservatives by giving the party o­nly o­ne vote out of around 200 in future contests to elect the UK leader.

The row follows controversial plans backed by Howard, who announced his resignation in May, to change the rules for electing his successor. Yesterday he urged grassroot activists to back the proposed reforms. But a poll of 100 party chairmen published today in a Sunday newspaper found that 44% intend to vote against the proposed new rules.

Party members currently choose the UK leader from a shortlist of two candidates selected by the parliamentary party, a system introduced by William Hague. But Howard and his allies dislike the system because they believe it can land Tory MPs with an unpopular leader they do not want.

The Tory leader wants to remove the vote from party members and instead hand it to the 198 Conservative MPs who would select the new leader.