Michael Z
Mike
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Posts: 4,288
Political Matrix
E: -5.88, S: -4.72
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« on: July 27, 2004, 02:56:02 PM » |
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« edited: July 27, 2004, 03:04:08 PM by Michael Z »
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After a narrow defeat in the 1992 election, John Major hangs on for another month before eventually stepping down under pressure from numerous Conservative backbench MPs. Thus the Tory leadership contest is thrown wide open. The contestants include:
Kenneth Baker
One of the most experienced Tory MPs. Environment- and Education Secretary under Margaret Thatcher, Home Secretary under John Major.
Kenneth Clarke, Health Secretary under Thatcher, Education Secretary under Major. Seen as a potential Shadow Chancellor.
Michael Heseltine, the man who unseated Thatcher and finished second in the 1990 leadership contest. However, still somewhat unpopular within the Party.
Douglas Hurd, Foreign Secretary under Thatcher and Major. Finished 3rd in the 1990 leadership contest. Widely seen as the favourite, alongside the experienced Kenneth Baker.
Normal Lamont, Chancellor Of The Exchequer under Major and one of the contest's dark horses.
Michael Portillo, a young upstart and a darling of the Thatcherite right. (How times change....)
John Redwood, representing the nationalistic wing of the party.
Malcolm Rifkind, Transport Secretary under John Major.
Norman Tebitt, erstwhile leader-in-the-making and once Chairman of the Party.
Who also runs? Who wins? Who makes the Shadow Cabinet? And do the Tories have a chance of beating Kinnock's Labour government in '97?
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