Unease over leadership changes among Tory chairman

Sunday, 4 September 2005 12:00 AM

Tory activists are ready to reject the wishes of the party and vote against rule changes regarding the leadership election, a new opinion poll suggests.

The survey of 100 constituency chairmen by the Sunday Telegraph found 44 per cent of respondents intended to vote against Michael Howard's proposed new rules.

Outgoing leader Mr Howard wants to stop the grassroots membership of the party from having the final say in who gets the top Tory job.

The poll indicates a sizeable opposition to the rule changes among local party chairman, who could veto the plans.

Under current rules, adopted by former Tory leader William Hague, MPs select two candidates which party members later vote on. But after that consultation process with party members, Mr Howard wants MPs to have the final say on who becomes leader.

Among party chairman, former chancellor Kenneth Clarke and David Davis, shadow home secretary, were neck and neck as leadership contenders, with both on 44 per cent, according to the survey.

The survey also found opposition to the rule changes had increased since Mr Clarke's formally entered the race and over a third (36 per cent) of party chairmen were rattled at the way they had been treated by the parliamentary party.

Meanwhile, at a meeting of the party's National Convention in London yesterday, Mr Howard urged local Tories to embrace the reforms and accept it was right that the leader must have the full support of the parliamentary party at Westminster.

"For the sake of our party and for the sake of our country, I hope that when it comes to the vote the proposed changes win your support," he argued.

Leadership hopefuls Liam Fox, the Tory foreign affairs spokesman, and David Willetts have called for the rule changes to be jettisoned.

Dr Fox has hinted he will join Mr Clarke and ex-foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind in the contest.

Shadow education secretary David Cameron is also expected to come forward. He is due to formally announce his candidature on Tuesday, according to press reports.

David Davis is currently the bookies' favourite to land the job.

Some 1,300 senior party members will vote on the changes. The ballot closes on September 27th.

Pundits said a rejection of the reforms may lead to the leadership contest taking place early next year.

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