Howard warns Tories of ‘hard slog’ ahead

NEW Tory leader Michael Howard yesterday warned his party it faced a “hard slog” if it was to snatch victory in the next general election.

In his first act as leader, Mr Howard appealed to Conservative MPs for unity to give him the best possible chance of replacing Tony Blair as British Prime Minister.

Mr Howard was named as successor to the ousted Iain Duncan Smith yesterday after no other contender came forward to challenge him by the noon deadline.