British Tories look to Howard as leader

Veteran right-winger and former minister Michael Howard launched a long-awaited bid yesterday for the leadership of Britain's flailing Conservative Party and pledged to head for the political centre ground to challenge Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Having just ousted its ineffectual leader Iain Duncan Smith, the party of former greats Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill hopes to anoint Mr Howard as a heavyweight who can restore the party's former glories.

Mr Howard, 62, accepted the challenge as other senior Conservatives stood aside in his favour - an attempt to unite quickly after months of in-fighting.

He announced his candidature with what analysts said amounted to a coronation speech but other, maverick contenders could still come forward to challenge him, greatly drawing out the election process.

"At its best we are a party broad and generous... a party capable of representing all Britain and all Britons," Mr Howard told a news conference in a glitzy London art gallery.

"I will lead this party from its centre. I will call on the talents of all in the party."

Analysts said although Mr Howard's greater stature and sharpness in debate would test the prime minister more sternly than the hapless Duncan Smith ever did, he was unlikely to overturn Labour's electoral dominance in the 18 months or so before the next general election.

But Mr Howard's supporters believe he will succeed where Duncan Smith failed - holding Mr Blair to account over anything from public services to the Iraq war, which most Britons opposed.