Post by Halan on Dec 6, 2005 16:48:00 GMT
Cameron chosen as new Tory leader
David Cameron will now choose his shadow cabinet
David Cameron has been elected as the new Conservative leader by a margin of more than two to one over David Davis.
The 39-year-old beat rival Mr Davis by 134,446 votes to 64,398 in a postal ballot of Tory members across the UK.
The Old Etonian, an MP for only four years, said: "I want us to give our country a modern compassionate Conservatism."
Mr Cameron said the Tories would now change how they looked and had to stop "grumbling" about modern Britain.
He was "fed up with the Punch and Judy politics of Westminster", and vowed to support government policies with which he agreed.
He was hailed by his defeated rival as the next Tory prime minister. Mr Davis said the contest was a preamble to a Conservative election victory.
The result ends a seven-month wait. Outgoing leader Michael Howard said he was quitting after May's election.
TORY CONTEST
Michael Howard announced he would stand down on 6 May, a day after election defeat
In the votes of MPs, Ken Clarke was first to be knocked out, then Liam Fox
David Davis topped the first poll of MPs but was overtaken by David Cameron in the final round
The final decision rests with the 253,600 Tory members
The election result was declared at the Royal Academy in London by Sir Michael Spicer, chairman of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers.
Party members' postal ballots were sent out a month ago ahead of a series of televised debates and private hustings. The votes were counted on Tuesday by the Electoral Reform Society.
Mr Davis, 56, began the contest as the bookmakers' favourite but a lacklustre speech at the Conservative annual conference in Blackpool dealt what turned out to be a fatal blow to his challenge.
Smelling opportunity
As he celebrated victory, Mr Cameron said there was "something in the air" which meant voters were prepared to look at the Conservatives again.
"People in this country are crying out for a Conservative Party that is decent, reasonable, sensible, common sense and in it for the long term of this country and that is the party we are going to build," he said.
Mr Cameron said there was still a "vast mountain to climb" but the Tories could return to government.
He set out core challenges for his leadership: creating a full-bodied economic policy which went beyond just tax; giving freedom to those on the frontline in public services; national and international security; and ensuring social justice by strengthening the voluntary sector.
Labour was not capable of meeting those challenges, he claimed.
"They are yesterday's men with yesterday's measures," added Mr Cameron.
Front bench choices
Attention is now shifting to who Mr Cameron chooses for his shadow cabinet, with supporters of Mr Davis demanding a "major role" for their contender.
Weekend newspaper reports suggested Mr Cameron was preparing to demote Mr Davis from his current job as shadow home secretary if he won.
William Hague is also expected to be asked to take a shadow cabinet job.
Mr Cameron's campaign manager, shadow chancellor George Osborne, said there were no plans to "humiliate" Mr Davis.
Brown battle
The new leader will face Tony Blair at prime minister's questions on Wednesday.
But most commentators expect Mr Cameron to fight the next election against Gordon Brown. Mr Blair has already said he will step down before the election.
Mr Brown dismissed claims that a young opponent would make him look old.
"I think that's a bit unfair, as the father of a two-year-old I feel pretty young," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Mr Brown said it was policies which counted at the polls.
"I don't see much evidence other than a rebranding of existing policies at the moment," he argued.
Ex-leaders' favourite
Mr Cameron, the shadow education secretary, topped the final poll of Tory MPs on 20 October, with Mr Davis in second place.
Rival Liam Fox was eliminated at that stage. The other contender, Ken Clarke, had been knocked out in the first round of voting, which was won by Mr Davis.
The two previous Conservative leaders, Mr Hague and Iain Duncan Smith, have both backed Mr Cameron for the job.
Mr Howard, who has been leader since 2003, refused to name his preferred choice, although Mr Cameron, who worked for him as a special adviser, was believed to be his favoured choice.
I think we can all honestly say we wanted dave davis to be in the headlines more
David Cameron will now choose his shadow cabinet
David Cameron has been elected as the new Conservative leader by a margin of more than two to one over David Davis.
The 39-year-old beat rival Mr Davis by 134,446 votes to 64,398 in a postal ballot of Tory members across the UK.
The Old Etonian, an MP for only four years, said: "I want us to give our country a modern compassionate Conservatism."
Mr Cameron said the Tories would now change how they looked and had to stop "grumbling" about modern Britain.
He was "fed up with the Punch and Judy politics of Westminster", and vowed to support government policies with which he agreed.
He was hailed by his defeated rival as the next Tory prime minister. Mr Davis said the contest was a preamble to a Conservative election victory.
The result ends a seven-month wait. Outgoing leader Michael Howard said he was quitting after May's election.
TORY CONTEST
Michael Howard announced he would stand down on 6 May, a day after election defeat
In the votes of MPs, Ken Clarke was first to be knocked out, then Liam Fox
David Davis topped the first poll of MPs but was overtaken by David Cameron in the final round
The final decision rests with the 253,600 Tory members
The election result was declared at the Royal Academy in London by Sir Michael Spicer, chairman of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers.
Party members' postal ballots were sent out a month ago ahead of a series of televised debates and private hustings. The votes were counted on Tuesday by the Electoral Reform Society.
Mr Davis, 56, began the contest as the bookmakers' favourite but a lacklustre speech at the Conservative annual conference in Blackpool dealt what turned out to be a fatal blow to his challenge.
Smelling opportunity
As he celebrated victory, Mr Cameron said there was "something in the air" which meant voters were prepared to look at the Conservatives again.
"People in this country are crying out for a Conservative Party that is decent, reasonable, sensible, common sense and in it for the long term of this country and that is the party we are going to build," he said.
Mr Cameron said there was still a "vast mountain to climb" but the Tories could return to government.
He set out core challenges for his leadership: creating a full-bodied economic policy which went beyond just tax; giving freedom to those on the frontline in public services; national and international security; and ensuring social justice by strengthening the voluntary sector.
Labour was not capable of meeting those challenges, he claimed.
"They are yesterday's men with yesterday's measures," added Mr Cameron.
Front bench choices
Attention is now shifting to who Mr Cameron chooses for his shadow cabinet, with supporters of Mr Davis demanding a "major role" for their contender.
Weekend newspaper reports suggested Mr Cameron was preparing to demote Mr Davis from his current job as shadow home secretary if he won.
William Hague is also expected to be asked to take a shadow cabinet job.
Mr Cameron's campaign manager, shadow chancellor George Osborne, said there were no plans to "humiliate" Mr Davis.
Brown battle
The new leader will face Tony Blair at prime minister's questions on Wednesday.
But most commentators expect Mr Cameron to fight the next election against Gordon Brown. Mr Blair has already said he will step down before the election.
Mr Brown dismissed claims that a young opponent would make him look old.
"I think that's a bit unfair, as the father of a two-year-old I feel pretty young," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Mr Brown said it was policies which counted at the polls.
"I don't see much evidence other than a rebranding of existing policies at the moment," he argued.
Ex-leaders' favourite
Mr Cameron, the shadow education secretary, topped the final poll of Tory MPs on 20 October, with Mr Davis in second place.
Rival Liam Fox was eliminated at that stage. The other contender, Ken Clarke, had been knocked out in the first round of voting, which was won by Mr Davis.
The two previous Conservative leaders, Mr Hague and Iain Duncan Smith, have both backed Mr Cameron for the job.
Mr Howard, who has been leader since 2003, refused to name his preferred choice, although Mr Cameron, who worked for him as a special adviser, was believed to be his favoured choice.
I think we can all honestly say we wanted dave davis to be in the headlines more
