Redwood: "Likely to Run"
The man who challenged John Major for the Tory party leadership less than two
years ago is on the brink of making a second pitch for the top job. John Redwood told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend: "It is very likely I will run."
But he warned there was a major task ahead in rebuilding the Conservative
Party across the country and it could only be done by starting at local
government level. "I think the party is far too small and far too weak in many parts of the
country, so the main task is to win back the trust of the British people through
local government and show people that we are a party worth joining again, that
we have something to offer this country, that we wish to provide good public
service and we do listen and we meet the needs of the people."
Mr Redwood revealed that he discussed his candidature at a meeting last night
at his home with 100 leading constituency members and officers. They said they would fully support him running in a leadership election. "I am seriously asking advice and consulting people. I will tell you when I have finally made up my mind. I am very close to making up my mind."
"It looks very encouraging. I have been very heartened by the number of
colleagues who have either rung me or responded to my calls and who have said
they do like the idea of my candidature going forward."
Despite the scale of the defeat, he said he believed it was still possible for
the Conservatives to win the next general election. "I think we have got to regard five years as the period for rebuilding the party. I think it could be done. "I think it is an enormous task. It is an awesome task but I think it is possible."
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