BRITAIN: Conservative leader Michael Howard, who is stepping down after the Tories' third successive election defeat last week, hopes the party will change the way it chooses its new leader.
Mr Howard told yesterday's Daily Telegraph his last service to the party will be to give MPs the final say, rather than party members as a whole. He said he intends to stand down after the party conference in October.
Under existing rules introduced in 1998, the parliamentary party whittles leadership candidates down to two in a series of votes by MPs. These two names then go forward to be voted on by the party membership as a whole.
On Tuesday, Mr Howard announced a front-bench reshuffle, mixing fresh, faces with more established figures. Among others, he brought in George Osborne (33) (see profile), as shadow chancellor, David Cameron(38) as shadow education secretary.
And yesterday jostling for position in the leadership contest was already under way behind the scenes. Among those seen as likely contenders are Malcolm Rifkind and Liam Fox, who were both given senior frontbench posts in Tuesday's shadow reshuffle. Mr Rifkind, freshly returned to parliament as MP for Kensington and Chelsea after an eight-year absence, took the work and pensions post. Dr Fox was promoted from chairman of the party to shadow foreign secretary in place of Michael Ancram, who takes defence.
David Davis, the leadership front-runner, remains shadow home secretary, while potential rival Andrew Lansley continues as shadow health secretary. David Willetts, seen by some as a challenger, moved sideways to shadow secretary of state for productivity, energy and industry.
Alan Duncan, who harbours leadership ambitions, was promoted to shadow transport secretary.
Tim Yeo, who resigned from the Tories' top team, and Kenneth Clarke are thought to be the only potential candidates absent from the shadow cabinet. - (PA)