Conservative Party (UK) leadership election, 2005

The 2005 Conservative leadership election was announced by party leader Michael Howard on May 6 2005, when he announced that he would be stepping down as leader in the near future. However he stated that he would not depart until a review of the rules for the leadership election had been conducted, given much dissatisfaction about the current system.

Timeline of events

• May 6 2005 - In the aftermath of the 2005 general election Michael Howard announces that there will be a review of the rules for electing a leader and that once this review is complete he will stand down. Shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin immediately confirms he will not be standing.
• May 10 2005 - Michael Howard unveils the new Shadow Cabinet with most potential leadership candidates in key positions. Much speculation surrounds the appointment of George Osborne as Shadow Chancellor - facing Gordon Brown, widely expected to become the next leader of the Labour Party. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4533555.stm
• May 20 2005 - George Osborne rules himself out of the leadership contest. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4564605.stm
• May 21 2005 - A survey of local party chairmen in Conservative held seats finds that the majority of respondents are happy for MPs to select the leader. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4568423.stm
• May 22 2005 - Former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine declares that he believes Kenneth Clarke is the best candidate to lead the party, but that Clarke is "anguishing" over whether or not to stand. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4568423.stm
• May 22 2005 - David Davis is reported to be undecided about whether or not to stand, stating that he always made his mind up about "these things at the last possible minute". http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4570461.stm
• May 23 2005 - Andrew Lansley calls for the party to radically reform itself, calling for the description "Reform Conservatives" to be used. He states he is undecided about whether or not to stand for the leadership. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4571889.stm
• May 24 2005 - Former leader Iain Duncan Smith cautions against proposals to remove grassroots members' say in the selection of the leader. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4574685.stm
• May 25 2005 - A consultation document on party reforms is formally circulated, including proposals to change the way the leader is elected, giving the final say to MPs and withdrawing the all-party member ballot. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4574685.stm
• May 27 2005 - Kenneth Clarke is reported to be contemplating a leadership bid. Many commentators believe that Clarke's position on the European Union will hinder a bid, as on previous occasions. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4585655.stm
• May 29 2005 - A referendum in France rejects the EU Constitution. Many commentators believe that this makes it likely that the constitution will no longer be an issue in UK politics that this removes a major obstacle to a Clarke leadership.
• June 1 2005 - A referendum in the Netherlands also rejects the Constitution, reinforcing mounting speculation that the Constitution will be abandoned and that this in turn makes Kenneth Clarke a more viable contender.
• June 2 2005 - Former leader Iain Duncan Smith calls for the next leader to be from "the mainstream of Eurosceptic opinion" in what is seen as a dismissal of Kenneth Clarke. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4604703.stm
• June 2 2005 - David Willets calls for the party to place a greater focus on social justice and a stronger society. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4602697.stm
• June 5 2005 - In a series of articles and interviews David Davis sets out his vision of the Conservative Party, emphasising the need to maitain its traditional values. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4610569.stm
• June 5 2005 - Kenneth Clarke declares that he believes the Constitution "plainly is no more". http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4610713.stm
• June 8 2005 - Sir Malcolm Rifkind states that it is "quite likely" he will stand for the leadership. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4617379.stm
• June 9 2005 - Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate, resigns as a Whip in order to support Rifkind's bid. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4074250.stm
• June 10 2005 - Alan Duncan becomes the first candidate to confirm his desire to seek the leadership. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4078868.stm
• June 13 2005 - Tim Yeo states in an interview that he feels there are "too many" candidates for the leadership and calls for the "plethora of would-be leaders" from the party's liberal wing to united around a single candidate. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4086450.stm
• June 14 2005 - Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher calls for the party "to return to first principles." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4094048.stm
• June 15 2005 - At a meeting of the 1922 Backbench Committee Conservative MPs holds an indicative vote on several proposed options for electing the leader. A system where MPs select the leader with a formal consultation of members is the preferred option. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4094678.stm
• June 16 2005 - Theresa May calls for the party the select high calibre candidates for their 100 top target seats, including 50 women. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4097746.stm
• June 16 2005 - In an interview David Cameron "hints" at a leadership bid. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4098228.stm
• June 17 2005 - High profile Conservative MP Boris Johnson says that will back Cameron. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4104286.stm
• June 18 2005 - Ian Taylor, widely seen as a key ally of Kenneth Clarke, indicates that David Davis could be the person to unify all wings of the party. Another Clarke ally, David Curry, however suggests that Clarke is the best qualified candidate. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4107146.stm
• June 19 2005 - Kenneth Clarke declares that he is "keen" to run for the leadership, though notes that there will be some months in which to make a final decision. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4108564.stm
• June 29 2005 - David Cameron makes a speech entitled "We're all in it together" in which he sets out his views on the future of the party and calls for families and married couples to receive greater support from the government. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4633101.stm
• June 29 2005 - Two former Party Treasurers declare support for different candidates in the Evening Standard. Lord Harris supports David Cameron whilst Lord Kalms supports David Davis. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4633101.stm
• July 1 2005 - Kenneth Clarke declares that he has sufficient support in the parliamentary party to be nominated for the leadership and that he will be a candidate "unless it becomes clear by the autumn that I don't have a serious prospect". http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4640579.stm
• July 3 2005 - Oliver Letwin declares his support for David Cameron, increasing the latter's chances of being the main challenger from the left of the party. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4645769.stm
• July 5 2005 - Michael Ancram warns that removing ordinary members' say in electing a leader will not make the party more attractive to voters. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4652045.stm
• July 6 2005 - Conservative MPs at a meeting of the 1922 Backbench Committee agree a system whereby a candidate with the support of 5% of MPs (currently 10 MPs) could stand and with a consultative poll of constituency party chairmen, who would each put forward two names, but with MPs making the final decisions. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4658275.stm
• July 18 2005 - Alan Duncan rules himself out of the leadership race in an article in The Guardian. http://politics.guardian.co.uk/conservatives/comment/0,9236,1530823,00.html
• July 18 2005 - As Duncan withdraws, Theresa May states, "I will be thinking about whether to stand." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4692145.stm
• June 19 2005 - A survey of primarily Conservative Party members and supporters reveals that there is strong support for MPs making the final decision but also strong support for ordinary party members having a formal say in the process. The same survey finds David Davis to be the most popular choice amongst respondents. http://conservativehome.com/record.jsp?type=opinion&ID=48
• July 21 2005 - MPs finish voting on proposals to change the rules and back a system that gives them the final say. Objections to removing the role of grassroots members are made by the Campaign for Conservative Democracy and by prominent Conservative MPs including Theresa May, Andrew Lansley, Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Ancram and David Willets. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4702619.stm
• August 27 2005 - Tim Yeo announces that he will not stand as the leader of the Conservative Party as he thinks that the Pro-European Kenneth Clarke is the best candidate to succeed Michael Howard as Conservative leader. He said that he would not stand but he would support Kenneth Clarke through the Leadership Election. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4190964.stm
• August 31 2005 - After a day of expectation Kenneth Clarke formally launches his bid. Supporters at his press conference include Ann Widdecombe, John Bercow and Tim Yeo. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4199540.stm
• September 5 2005 - Liam Fox declares his intention to stand as leader of the Conservative party http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/09/05/nfox05.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/09/05/ixnewstop.html
• September 27 2005 - Proposal to change the rules for electing a new leader is rejected. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4285182.stm
• September 29 2005 - David Davis and David Cameron both officially launch their election campaigns. http://politics.guardian.co.uk/toryleader/story/0,16473,1580887,00.html
• October 3 2005 - Andrew Lansley rules himself out of the contest, citing a lack of support. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4289270.stm
• October 5 2005 - Deputy Leader Michael Ancram rules himself out of the contest, citing a lack of support. He also announces he will return to the backbenches when the new leader is elected. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4313212.stm

Election Timetable

• 7 October Nominations open
• 14 October Nominations close http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17129-1806014,00.html
• 18 October First ballot of MPs
• 20 October Second ballot of MPs
• Subsequent Tuesdays and Thurdays - Further ballots of MPs until only two candidates remain
• 5 December Members' ballot closes
• 6 December Result announced