Major Quits As Tory Leader
John Major is standing down as leader of the Conservative Party, following his massive electoral defeat.
Mr Major made the announcement as he left 10 Downing Street for the last time, on his way to tender his resignation as Prime Minister to the Queen. He said he wanted to put an end to all the speculation of recent days.
"When the curtain falls, it's time to get off the stage - and that's what I propose to do," he said.
Senior Tories are already jostling to succeed Mr Major as party leader. The former Chancellor, Kenneth Clarke, has became the first candidate to throw his hat into the ring.
"I certainly intend to be a candidate in the leadership election," he told BBC Radio 4's World At One.
"I have obviously made no preparations. I have no organisation and I shall be discussing this next week with my friends when Parliament reassembles," he said.
In his final speech outside 10 Downing Street, Mr Major said it had been an immense privilege to serve as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom over the past six and a half years.
"It is a privilege which comes to very few people and it is a very precious privilege indeed."
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Major bows out
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Mr Major said he would be advising members of his party it would be appropriate for them to consider a new person to lead them through opposition in the years ahead.
"Naturally, I will remain at the service of the Party during what I hope will be a reasonably brief interregnum."
Mr Major excused himself, because of his appointment with the Queen - and, he said, because he hoped to get to The Oval cricket ground in time for lunch.
Paying tribute to him, the Liberal Democrat leader, Paddy Ashdown, said he was "a decent and honourable man leading what has become a truly dreadful party".
Tony Blair also praised Mr Major's "dignity and courage", as he moved in to 10 Downing Street.
Other names also being put forward as possible rivals for the top job include the former Health Secretary, Stephen Dorrell; the deputy prime minister, Michael Heseltine; the former Home Secretary, Michael Howard, and Social Security Secretary, Peter Lilley.
The former leadership challenger, John Redwood, and the former Welsh Secretary, William Hague, have both been non-committal when asked whether they would stand.
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