2005 Conservative Party leadership election

2005 Conservative Party leadership election

← 2003 7 October – 6 December 2005 (2005-10-07 – 2005-12-06) 2016 →

Candidate David Cameron David Davis First ballot 56 (28.3%) 62 (31.3%) Second ballot 90 (45.5%) 57 (28.8%) Members' vote 134,446 (67.6%) 64,398 (32.4%)   Candidate Liam Fox Kenneth Clarke First ballot 42 (21.2%) 38 (19.2%) Second ballot 51 (25.7%) Eliminated Members' vote Eliminated Eliminated

Leader before election Michael Howard Elected Leader David Cameron

The 2005 Conservative Party leadership election was called by party leader Michael Howard on 6 May 2005, when he announced that he would be stepping down as Leader of the Conservative Party in the near future following the party's third successive general election defeat. However, he stated that he would not depart until a review of the rules for the leadership election had been conducted, given the high level of dissatisfaction with the current system. Ultimately, no changes were made and the election proceeded with the existing rules, which were introduced in 1998.

The contest formally began on 7 October 2005, when the Chairman of the 1922 Committee, Michael Spicer, received a letter of resignation from Howard. Nominations for candidates opened immediately, and closed on 13 October.

The first round of voting amongst Conservative members of Parliament took place on 18 October and Kenneth Clarke was eliminated (38 votes) leaving David Davis (62 votes), David Cameron (56 votes) and Liam Fox (42 votes) to go through to the second ballot on 20 October. In the second ballot, Fox was eliminated (51 votes), leaving Cameron (90 votes) and Davis (57 votes) to go through to a postal ballot. The ballot, whose result was declared on 6 December, saw Cameron win 68% of votes to Davis' 32%.^[1]