British Conservative Party leader, Mr Michael Howard, radically reshaped his shadow cabinet last night while inviting three former party leaders and Mr Kenneth Clarke to bolster his leadership by serving on a new advisory council, writes Frank Millar, London Editor.
Mr Howard - elected unopposed last week to succeed Mr Iain Duncan Smith - demonstrated his political strength by demoting 10 colleagues and announcing a new streamlined shadow cabinet of just 12 members.
At the same time he clinched his bid for party unity by confirming that his three immediate predecessors as party leader, Mr Duncan Smith, Mr William Hague and Mr John Major - together with Mr Clarke, a former chancellor and leadership contender - had agreed to serve on a new Conservative Advisory Council.
This body is likely to meet at least once a month to monitor the party's progress and performance in the build-up to the next general election. And Mr Clarke confirmed last night that it would see him and those of his colleagues still in the Commons - Mr Hague and Mr Duncan Smith - make frontbench appearances when appropriate.
While retaining his views in favour of British membership of the euro and against the war in Iraq, Mr Clarke told Channel 4 News he would now be "more involved" in Conservative politics than he had been at any time since the party went into opposition in 1997.
Mr Howard said he was delighted the former leaders and Mr Clarke had agreed to form the group which would be part of his "Conservative team"; that they would be invited to speak from time to time from the frontbench in the Commons; and that they had agreed to campaign for the party in the country.
"As I have repeatedly made clear, I want to make full use of the rich array of talent in the Conservative Party. This team extends well beyond the shadow cabinet," Mr Howard said.
The big winners in Mr Howard's new-look shadow cabinet were Mr Liam Fox and Lord Saatchi, Mrs Thatcher's former advertising guru, who become co-chairman of the Conservative Party; Mr Oliver Letwin, who becomes shadow chancellor; Mr David Davis, shadow home secretary; and leading "moderniser" Mr Tim Yeo who assumes combined responsibility for health and education.
The new Northern Ireland spokesman is Mr David Lidington.