Tory members will vote on 'unchallenged' Howard

Michael Howard’s leadership bid will be put to a vote of the Tory membership in England even if he remains the only candidate, the party confirmed today.

Kenneth Clarke was the last Conservative heavyweight to rule himself out of the running, setting the scene for Mr Howard’s unchallenged coronation.

The shadow chancellor could be handed the leadership without a ballot. But senior figures want rank-and-file members to be given the chance to endorse his appointment.

He has already said he is “eager and keen” to give the party’s 300,000 members a say.

Grassroots members are already angry at the way MPs ousted Iain Duncan Smith, the first leader they had elected. The party’s board want Mr Howard to be seen to have the support of activists.

With the backing of more than 90 Tory MPs Mr Howard’s bid now seems almost unstoppable.

But Raymond Monbiot, president of the board, said: “We have got a system at the moment and we are going to have the opportunity for the volunteers to endorse the leader because it is the loyalty of the volunteers, that web and weft of the party.”

Conservative Central Office was unable to give any estimate of the cost of a postal ballot to the cash-strapped party.

In 2001, 330,000 members took part and the process took three weeks.

Mr Monbiot told the BBC any leader had to be seen to have the backing of activists.

“According to the constitution the members have the right to have their say on the endorsement of the leader even if there is only one candidate,” he said.

“The most important aspect of this is that the greatest gift a leader can have is the loyalty of the volunteers and for it to be known that he has the enthusiastic loyalty and backing.”

Mr Monbiot said the members would back Mr Howard but admitted many were “absolutely hopping mad” about the way Mr Duncan Smith had been deposed.

“They feel that was extremely unhelpful in the way that it all happened,” he said.

He suggested the rules could be changed in future, saying: “At the present time you have the volunteers who elect the leader and then support him and then the MPs who don’t elect him directly but can remove him. There is a great sort of disjunction there.”

Mr Clarke announced he would not stand against Mr Howard following talks last night.

The Europhile former chancellor wanted reassurances about the direction Mr Howard intends to take the party. Another possible contender, John Redwood, also ruled himself out.

Today Mr Clarke welcomed Mr Howard’s pledge to lead from the centre.

“I’m afraid my enthusiasm for standing for the leadership of the Conservative Party is no greater than it was when I last denied it on the doorstep about a week ago,” he said.

Mr Clarke was defeated by Iain Duncan Smith in the final round of the last leadership contest when ordinary party members voted for the ousted leader by more than three to two.

He said: “I’m not going to give up any other of my bad habits but coming second in Conservative leadership elections is something I don’t intend to do.

“So I shall support whoever emerges as leader but I’m not standing myself.”

A challenge by a maverick who wants to give party members a choice cannot be ruled out until nominations close next Thursday.

But Mr Clarke’s decision means a challenge is an increasingly unlikely prospect.

Attention in Westminster is already focusing on the changes he will make to the shadow cabinet.

Oliver Letwin is tipped for promotion after apparently acting as an emissary between David Davis and Mr Howard.

Shadow education secretary Damian Green welcomed Mr Clarke’s “brave and sensible decision”.

“Ken had said all along that he didn’t think he was going to run,” he told Sky News. “And what we have seen this week is a huge range of support developing for Michael Howard from all wings of the party.

“Clearly there is an enormous feeling that we need to get together, to put the divisions of the past behind us and to get on with our job of exposing the Government and explaining our policies.”

Bookmakers Ladbrokes announced today they are already paying out on bets on Mr Howard securing the leadership.

But Liberal Democrats warned that Mr Howard he could lose his seat at the next election.

Lib Dem strategist Lord Rennard said Labour supporters were ready to vote tactically to boot the former Home Secretary out of Parliament.

A string of other prominent Conservatives could follow him, according to the respected number-cruncher.

David Davis, Theresa May, Tim Collins and Caroline Spelman – all members of Mr Duncan Smith’s shadow cabinet – are under threat, he said.

Lib Dems are targeting their seats in a “decapitation” strategy – aimed at cutting off the “head” of the Tory Party.