Sir Malcolm Rifkind pulls out of leadership race.

[tjwmason]

Scrolling jobby on the B.B.C. web-site, but no actual story yet.

Be interesting to see whom he supports now.

[cal04]

1. Rifkind Pulls Out Of Leadership Race

Sir Malcolm Rifkind has withdrawn from the contest to become the new leader of the Conservative party, his campaign manager Crispin Blunt has said.Sir Malcolm had the backing of seven MPs but was trailing badly in opinion polls.His departure leaves David Cameron, Kenneth Clarke, David Davis and Liam Fox still in the running to succeed Michael Howard.

The candidates will watch with interest to see who Sir Malcolm decides to support, with Mr Clarke's supporters hoping he will throw his weight behind their candidate. However, there is speculation at Westminster that he may be planning to back Mr Cameron.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/11102005/140/rifkind-pulls-leadership-race.html

http://www.epolitix.com/EN/News/200510/a1277de4-3d30-4c00-9ed2-8e31d6bf8611.htm

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Interview with Rifkind coming up on Radio 4 "World at One"

Says he will support Clarke, but he can't guarantee his supported will.

[Taxloss]

3. He's backing Clarke.

It's hard to blame him for pulling out. He hardly stood a chance.

[T_i_B]

4. I think he only had about 7 endorsements

says it all really. I'm actually sad that he won't be the next Tory leader as we was one of the better ones on offer. Certainly preferable to Cameron or Davis.

[Taxloss]

5. I once heard Rifkind described as "a Michael Howard tribute band"

IE a pale imitation. It would have been nice to see him win because I couldn't imagine him winning a general election.

[T_i_B]

6. Well he's always seemed a great deal more moderate

and less creepy too. He just looks a bit like Howard. Maybe he would have stood more of a chance if he hadn't lost his seat in 1997? :shrug:

[Taxloss]

7. To be honest, I think the Tories are aiming for a full head of hair

this time. They've learned that lesson ...

[T_i_B]

10. I think I actually prefer Hague to Cameron!

Cameron just seems like a posh version of Hague, only with less charisma and less experience, despite his luxuriant locks.

{Mind you, considering that I have not changed my hairstyle that much since I was 14 I'm hardly in a position to grumble about other people's hair)

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. He did oppose the invasion of Iraq

which does put him in the 'human' rather than 'pod people' section.

[fedsron2us]

9. Iraq is where Blair is at his weakest

but as far as I can see Ken Clarke is the only one of the Tory leadership candidates who has been a consistent critic of the invasion. The fact that the opposition are completely incapable of exploiting the one issue where they could differentiate themselves from 'New Labour' says a lot about why they may not be getting back into power in a hurry.

[...of J.Temperance]

11. To me, Rifkind is one of the more decent and normal Tories

I can't say that I dislike him, actually I rather like him, I think he's batting for the wrong side though.

[LeftishBrit]

12. Agree with you

I prefer Rifkind to Blair, not that I'd actually vote for either of them.

[...of J.Temperance]

13. It's odd isn't it?

That Rifkind seems more Liberal than Blair...then again, in about another years time, Enoch Powell will PROBABLY seem more Liberal than Blair.

Blair will never get my vote ever again, he's a lying, Right-Wing freak. Everybody knows that I'm a famous Brownite.