News Release

29th October 2003

CHANGE OF PARTY RULES NEEDED

Michael Fabricant said today it was "madness" to have a system which allowed the Leader of the Conservative Party to be chosen when he did not necessarily enjoy the majority support of the parliamentary Party.

He has written to Tory officials urging that the present system be "stood on its head" for future leadership elections.

Mr Fabricant said: "What is happening today is partly the consequence of the rules and I am now calling for an urgent review of the rules of the party both in relation to party structure and to the election of a leader.

"It is imperative that the general membership of the party still be enfranchised, but the final decision must remain with the parliamentary party and not with the party outside Westminster.

"Any future leader must know that he or she enjoys the support of the majority of the parliamentary party. This did not happen with Iain Duncan Smith and it has been a rod on his back ever since."

He said the solution would be for the party in the country to make the first choice of candidates, allowing the parliamentary party to make the final decision between 2 or 3 candidates.

"This would turn the present system on its head.