Bill's Comment Page

Michael Howard announces his leadership candidacy formally

In what most observers would have to agree was a lively and entertaining way, Michael Howard about half an hour ago announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Conservative Party. He dealt with some barbed questions from journalists with humour and wit.

Whilst I am by no means convinced, yet, that this particular leopard has changed his spots, he made a lot of the right noises:
- I will lead from the centre of the Conservative Party;
- there will be no no-go areas for Conservatives around Britain;
- I will draw together all strands of Conservative opinion, both inside and outside the Party.

He also said a number of things which perhaps may convince me that he has finally 'got it': he talked about 'diversity' and announced he will be meeting with Kenneth Clarke (one of the leading 'moderate' Conservatives), who has already announced he will not be putting his own name forward as a candidate. I want to know, however, how he will react the next time legislation is proposed to allow co-habiting couples of mixed or single genders to have some of the same rights and obligations as married couples - has he fully appreciated the changes within British society which have so far largely passed the Conservative Party by? If so, will he be prepared to put his fine words into action by resisting attempts by the right-wing diehards within the Conservative Party to thwart such legislation?

The list remains open until Thursday 6th November for additional candidates to put their names forward, but it appears there is a strong mood within the parliamentary Party that they should unite behind Michael Howard. The only possibility I can see of anyone else putting his or her name forward is after consultation with local constituency parties over the weekend, but this seems to me to be a remote possibility.