TORY PARTY DUMPS IDS

Sky News ^ | Last Updated: 21:36 UK, Wednesday October 29, 2003 | staff

[Eurotwit]

TORY PARTY DUMPS IDS

Iain Duncan Smith has lost his job as leader of the Tory Party after a ballot of 165 Conservative MPs.

A respectable 75 MPs supported him, against 90 who wanted him out.

He had lasted two years, one month and 16 days as leader.

Immediately after the result was announced, Mr Duncan Smith said: "The parliamentary party has spoken and I will stand down as leader when a successor has finally been chosen."

Michael Howard has already announced he will stand in the upcoming leadership elections.

But Shadow Deputy Prime Minister David Davis will not stand and has said he will back Mr Howard.

Oliver Letwin, Liam Fox and Stephen Dorrell, all from the left of the party, have all said they will support Mr Howard.

Michael Ancram and Tim Yeo are also expected ruled themselves out of the contest.

Mr Duncan Smith gave his "deepest thanks" to colleagues and volunteers but most of all his wife, Betsy.

And he said it had been an "immense honour" to lead the party but he is "particularly sorry" he will not have the opportunity to fulfill his promises to some of the poorest people in the country.

Speaking outside Tory Party headquarters, he said he believes he has provided a "serious and strong" policy agenda and said he "profoundly hopes" the next leader will be the next prime minister.

And he added that he will give that leader his "absolute loyalty and support", though he will not choose between candidates.

Nominations opened immediately for a new leadership contest, Sir Michael Spicer, the chairman of the backbench 1922 committee said.

But Mr Duncan Smith will not be allowed to stand.

They will close on Thursday, November 6, but Tory Party rules allow for the coronation of a leader if only one candidate stands.

[Eurotwit]

I think it is a good thing to get rid of Ian Duncan Smith. His opportunistic behaviours and criticism of the Blair government over Iraq was rather ugly to watch.

He reminded me of Ted Kennedy.

Hopefully, this will be the beginning of a Tory revival.

[Eurotwit]

The Tories left of the Democrats..

Not really. It is the party of Margareth Tatcher and Winston Churchill.

[demlosers]

No, they are the party of Margret Thatcher.

[Eurotwit]

I think the Tories have become increasingly desperate during the last decade, and I agree that some of the latest policy initiatives from IDS have sounded a tad liberal.

Here's hoping that this leadership change will help the Tory party rediscover its soul.