Davis still hopeful of Tory victory
David Davis last night made a final appeal to Conservative party members before the ballots to decide who should become their next leader close on Monday.
The shadow home secretary told reporters ahead of the last of 11 hustings between him and rival David Cameron: “Don’t write me off yet.”
The meeting in Exeter was the last chance for the two men to explain why they should succeed Michael Howard as the next Tory leader.
Mr Cameron is widely expected to win, having the support of more than 100 Tory MPs and leading the opinion polls, but Mr Davis has insisted the race is not yet over.
At last night’s hustings, the Yorkshire MP took heart from the fortunes of the Doncaster Rovers, who beat David Cameron’s football team, Aston Villa, in the Carling Cup.
“All I can say is where Doncaster Rovers lead, I expect to follow next week,” Mr Davis said.
For his part, Mr Cameron has always publicly insisted that there is everything to play for, and yesterday the shadow education secretary urged those party members who had not yet voted to send in their ballots.
Whoever wins the race for the leadership will have just a day to get used to his new role before facing Tony Blair at the dispatch box during prime minister’s questions on Wednesday.
Yesterday, Michael Howard set a high standard for his successor during his last appearance as leader, receiving cheers from both sides of the house as he questioned Mr Blair on when he, too, would step down.
The prime minister replied by simply stating his record as leader of a Labour party that has won three elections in a row – while the Conservatives have gone through four leaders.
“Next week, I shall face the fifth, but I must say one more thing to opposition members,” Mr Blair said.
“If one looks at all the previous Conservative leaders I have faced, the first one was Conservative leader for six years; the second one, for four years; the third one for two years, one month and 16 days; and the right honourable and learned gentleman [Mr Howard] has lasted just two years and one month.
“I do not know whether that is a very good basis on which the next one should start.”
