2001 Conservative Party leadership election

2001 Conservative Party leadership election

← 1997 8 June – 13 September 2001 (2001-06-08 – 2001-09-13) 2003 →

Candidate Iain Duncan Smith Kenneth Clarke Michael Portillo First ballot 39 (23.5%) 36 (21.6%) 49 (29.5%) Second ballot 42 (25.3%) 39 (23.6%) 50 (30.1%) Third ballot 54 (32.5%) 59 (35.5%) 53 (32.0%) Members' vote 155,993 (60.7%) 100,864 (39.3%) Eliminated   Candidate David Davis Michael Ancram First ballot 21 (12.7%) 21 (12.7%) Second ballot 18 (10.8%) 17 (10.2%) Third ballot Withdrew Eliminated Members' vote Withdrew Eliminated

Leader before election William Hague Elected Leader Iain Duncan Smith

The 2001 Conservative Party leadership election was held after the party failed to make inroads into the Labour government's lead in the 2001 general election. Party leader William Hague resigned, and a leadership contest was called under new rules Hague had introduced. Five candidates came forward: Michael Ancram, David Davis, Kenneth Clarke, Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Portillo.

Duncan Smith was announced winner of the election on 13 September 2001, serving until 2003, and Ancram was subsequently awarded the Deputy Leadership, serving until 2005.