Clarke: Grassroots choice

Hague "Number Two" For Grassroots Voters As Well

The result of a fresh poll among Conservative constituency chairmen and peers was announced just before the polls opened for the second ballot of the Conservative leadership contest - in which Mr Clarke was ahead of Mr. Hague by just two votes.

The former Chancellor put more distance between himself and William Hague in Tuesday morning's round of voting by Tory grassroots nationwide, but Mr Hague came a respectable second, though still well behind the former chancellor. John Redwood trailed in third place.

Mr Clarke received 242 endorsements from constituency chairmen in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, compared to Mr Hague's 223.

Mirroring this afternoon's ballot results, the difference between the two former cabinet ministers was a lot smaller than last week when the respective figures were 269 to 178.

Mr Clarke won the votes of 152 Conservative peers as opposed to 177 last week, and Mr Hague 59 compared with his previous 45 endorsements.

The former chancellor retained all 17 endorsements of the party's MEPs and again topped polls of Scottish and Euro constituency chairmen.

Mr. Redwood won 20 endorsements from peers, compared with 13 last time; 28 from English, Welsh and Ulster chairman, up from 25; two from Scottish chairmen, up from zero; and 16 from Euro constituency chairman, up from 11.