LONDON - The Conservative leadership election will take place on June 10th under the current rules, which prevent the party faithful from voting, Rachel Borrill reports. Only the 164 Tory MPs will be able to choose the new leader, despite calls from the party chairman, Dr Brian Mawhinney, and several former MPs to allow grass-root activists a vote. The 1922 Committee of Backbenchers argued that it was in the best interests of the party that the contest should take place as soon as possible.
However, the newly-elected chairman of the committee, Sir Archie Hamilton, attempted to appease the party faithful by promising that proposals to change the rules will be heard at the party conference in October.