Major safe from leadership challenge

COLIN BROWN and

PATRICIA WYNN DAVIES

John Major's leadership was given a boost last night when senior Conservative backbenchers announced he would not face a leadership election before the general election.

The decision of the 1922 Committee Tory MPs was intended to lift the threat of a leadership challenge to Mr Major to enable the party to focus on the fight-back against Labour.

He could still face pressure to stand down if the Tories suffer disastrous losses in the May local elections but the move could help to stabilise Mr Major's leadership and force panicky Tories to accept that he will lead them into the next general election.

Mr Major's supporters last night said it would not make sense for the Prime Minister to stand down after defeating John Redwood, the right-wing challenger, in the leadership contest last July. Mr Major's tactic of forcing a leadership election failed to end the speculation, which broke out again a fortnight ago, over rumours of a move by Tory "grandees" to replace him.

The leaders of the committee decided last night to try to kill the rumours, which were fuelled by a review of the leadership rules. Sir Marcus Fox, the committee's chairman and a staunch John Major loyalist, said in a statement that the committee had agreed that the present rules, "as they affect a possible challenge to the leader of the party are suspended until after the next general election".

Sir Marcus confirmed that a review of the rules was taking place, but said this would take a considerable time because of the consultations necessary. "The uncertainty involved was not acceptable hence the executive and the full committee have taken this particular course of action," he said.

The rules provide that the party leader must submit himself for re-election each autumn.

While all members of the 18-strong predominantly right-wing 1922 executive were prepared to put the rules on hold, there were signs that some of them might have been bounced in to it. There was said to have been no advance circulation of a motion on the subject, nor was there a vote.

Last night's decision signals the end of months of damaging speculation in the run-up to the autumn. There remains a theoretical possibility that some senior MPs will call for Mr Major's head after the widely expected Tory defeats in May. But that would require Mr Major to step aside voluntary, which few believe he would do.

The committee's executive had already agreed to a request by Mr Major that he should not face a challenge last November following July's contest. But some MPs appeared to be dragging their feet over any permanent change to the rules.

A number of other backbenchers and ministers believe there should be no mechanism at all for challenging a sitting prime minister during the course of a Parliament.

Douglas Hurd, the former Foreign Secretary, is among those opposed to such challenges and believes prime ministers should be removed only by a general election or by an open vote in the Commons.