2003 Conservative Party leadership election (UK)

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2003 Conservative Party leadership election
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  Michael Howard (cropped).jpg
Candidate Michael Howard
Popular voteUnopposed
Leader before election

Iain Duncan Smith

Elected Leader

Michael Howard

The 2003 Conservative Party leadership election was caused by the enforced resignation of incumbent leader Iain Duncan Smith after the loss of a confidence vote among his parliamentary party. The causes of Duncan Smith's fall are often cited as his lack of charisma and impact with the public, the uninspired direction of the party under his leadership, and his previous failure to achieve more than a third of support among Members of Parliament in the 2001 leadership contest. In the event, the Conservative Party coalesced around Michael Howard as replacement leader and there was not a contest to replace Duncan Smith.

Iain Duncan Smith British politician

George Iain Duncan Smith, often referred to by his initials IDS, is a British Conservative Party politician. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from 2010 to 2016, he was previously the Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from 2001 to 2003. He was first elected to Parliament at the 1992 general election as the MP for Chingford—which he represented until the constituency's abolition in 1997—and he has since represented its successor constituency of Chingford and Woodford Green.

A member of parliament (MP) is the representative of the voters to a parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this category includes specifically members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title. Member of Congress is an equivalent term in other jurisdictions.

Conservative Party (UK) Political party in the United Kingdom

The Conservative Party, officially the Conservative and Unionist Party, sometimes informally called the Tories, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom. The governing party since 2010, it is the largest in the House of Commons, with 311 Members of Parliament, and also has 238 members of the House of Lords, 4 members of the European Parliament, 31 Members of the Scottish Parliament, 11 members of the Welsh Assembly, 8 members of the London Assembly and 7,462 local councillors.

Contents

Fall of Iain Duncan Smith

Duncan Smith's leadership was damaged by his lack of support among many of his MPs and the perception that he was a weak, un-charismatic leader.[ citation needed ] On 14 February 2003, former MP Barry Legg was selected as Conservative Party Chief Executive. He was from the right of the party and replaced modernizer Mark MacGregor, which led to conflict within the party. [1] On 23 February 2003, The Daily Telegraph published a story that members of parliament were considering a vote of confidence due to Duncan Smith's perceived un-electability. [2] On 1 May 2003, Crispin Blunt resigned from the Conservative front bench and demanded a no confidence motion in Duncan Smith, the day before local government elections. On 7 May, Barry Legg resigned amid continuing disquiet. [1]

Barry Charles Legg was the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Milton Keynes South West from 1992 until the 1997 general election when he was defeated by Labour's Phyllis Starkey. Legg is the chairman of the Eurosceptic Bruges Group.

Mark MacGregor is a British Conservative Party politician and entrepreneur. He fought several parliamentary elections for the party, became chief executive of Conservative Central Office from 2002 to 2003 and then ran Steve Norris' campaign to become Mayor of London in 2004. He has run various businesses, including a communications company, Marketforce Communications Ltd, an events firm and a cloud technology company, Connect Support Services Ltd. He was appointed Deputy Director of Policy Exchange in early 2013

On 13 October 2003, the parliamentary watchdog began an investigation into Duncan Smith's past employment of his wife as his diary secretary. There were allegations that she was on the parliamentary payroll for apparently doing no work. On 18 October, backbench MP Patrick Cormack suggested that Duncan Smith should call a vote of confidence in his leadership. On 22 October, major party donor Stuart Wheeler said there was "an overwhelming case" to replace Duncan Smith. [1]

Patrick Cormack British politician

Patrick Thomas Cormack, Baron Cormack, is a British politician, historian, journalist and author. He represented the Conservative Party as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1970 to 2010.

Stuart Wheeler British businessman and politician

John Stuart Wheeler is a British financier and political activist. He made his fortune as the founder of the spread betting firm IG Index in 1974, but is best known for his political activism, being formerly a major donor to the Conservative Party and treasurer of the UK Independence Party from 2011 to 2014.

For a vote of confidence to occur, 15 percent of Conservative MPs (at the time, 25 MPs) had to write to the Chairman of the 1922 Committee demanding the vote. On 26 October, amid mounting claims that the threshold of 25 was about to be reached, Duncan Smith made an appearance on television and dared his opponents to show their hand by the evening of 29 October, or to withdraw their challenge. He also stated that he would not step down if a vote were called. [3] On 28 October, Sir Michael Spicer, chairman of the 1922 Committee, announced that he had received at least 25 votes and the vote of no confidence was held on 29 October 2003. Duncan Smith lost the vote 75–90. [4]

The 1922 Committee, formally known as the Conservative Private Members' Committee, is the parliamentary group of the Conservative Party in the UK House of Commons. The committee, consisting of all Conservative backbencher MPs, meets weekly while parliament is in session and provides a way for backbenchers to co-ordinate and discuss their views independently of frontbenchers. Its executive membership and officers are by consensus limited to backbench MPs, although since 2010 frontbench Conservative MPs have an open invitation to attend meetings. The committee can also play an important role in choosing the party leader. The group was formed in 1923 but became important after 1940. It is generally closely related to the leadership and under the control of party whips.

Rise of Michael Howard

As soon as the result of the confidence vote was known, MPs David Davis and Oliver Letwin announced that they were supporting former Home Secretary Michael Howard. [4] Kenneth Clarke and Tim Yeo announced they would not be running. Michael Ancram, deputy leader of the party, gave the qualified statement that he would not stand against Howard so long as no other candidate came forward. The prospect of a sole candidate raised many questions as to whether or not ordinary party members would have the opportunity to decide whether they accepted Howard as leader,[ citation needed ] and some[ who? ] suggested an all-member ballot. No other candidates came forward, and Howard was elected unopposed on 6 November 2003. The board of the Conservative Party decided not to have that ratified by the party membership. [5] The Tories went on to lose the 2005 United Kingdom General Election.

David Davis (British politician) British Conservative Party politician and former businessman

David Michael Davis is a British Conservative Party politician who served as Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union from July 2016 to July 2018 and Chief Negotiator for Exiting the European Union from July 2016 to September 2017, and has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Haltemprice and Howden since 1997. He was previously elected to the House of Commons for Boothferry in 1987, and reelected in 1992. Davis was sworn of the Privy Council in the 1997 New Year Honours, having previously been Minister of State for Europe from 1994 to 1997.

Oliver Letwin British politician

Sir Oliver Letwin, is a British Conservative politician. He has served as Member of Parliament for West Dorset since 1997. He was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 2014 to 2016.

Home Secretary United Kingdom government cabinet minister

Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, normally referred to as the Home Secretary, is a senior official as one of the Great Offices of State within Her Majesty's Government and head of the Home Office. It is a British Cabinet level position.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Timeline: Duncan Smith's leadership". BBC News . 2003-10-27. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  2. ↑ Colin Brown and Francis Elliott (23 February 2003). "Duncan Smith's astonishing fightback: 'Portillo is mad,' he says". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "Duncan Smith faces leadership vote". BBC News . 2003-10-28. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  4. 1 2 "Tory leader ousted". BBC News . 2003-10-29. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  5. ↑ "Howard crowned Tory leader". BBC News . 2003-11-06. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
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