Tortuous Tory Trail to the Top
It could be the middle of June at least before we know who will be the new leader of the Tory Party.
Mr Major's decision to stand down sets in motion a complex series of events and it may take several weeks before a successor is chosen.
The Conservative Party revised its rules for electing a new leader after Mrs Thatcher was dumped in 1990.
Under the new rules the process is supervised by the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee. The current chairman - Sir Marcus Fox - has lost his Shipley seat. The appointment of a successor must take place before the leadership contest can get underway.
The new intake of MPs is not due back at Westminster until May 7 to begin being sworn-in. They formally reassemble for the Queen's Speech on May 14.
It is unlikely that the 1922 Committee election can take place before the 21st of May, thus planning for the leadership contest cannot really start until that date.
Candidates have to be proposed and seconded in writing by other Tory MPs and
nominations will close by noon on a Thursday five days before the date of the
first ballot.
If only one valid nomination is received, the chairman of the committee will
declare that candidate elected.
If more than one valid nomination is received (and on current form up to eight contenders have been mentioned) a ballot is triggered on the following Tuesday.
The rules provide for consultation on the candidates with both constituency
associations and Tory peers.
In a secret ballot, Tory MPs are allowed to express just one choice of
candidate.
To be elected, a candidate has to get an overall majority and 15% more of the
votes than any other challenger.
If no candidate achieves this, a second ballot is triggered on the following
Tuesday.
New Nominations
New nominations have to be submitted by Thursday and the voting system is
changed, scrapping the 15% more votes rule.
This ensures that any candidate receiving an overall majority is elected.
But should no candidate achieve this a third ballot will be run on the
Thursday.
Of the candidates remaining, the two who got the most votes in the second
ballot will go forward to the third.
The candidate receiving a majority is elected. In the event of a tie and no agreement between the two candidates to resolve the impasse, a fourth ballot is
held on the following Tuesday.
Whoever wins the leadership has to be presented for confirmation to Tory MPs,
peers and MEPs.
This process means that we may not know the name of the new Tory leader before the second or third week in June.
|
