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John Major will be the
youngest British prime minister this
century |
1990: Tories choose Major for Number
10 |
England have
John Major is to be Britain's new prime minister after winning the
Conservatives' leadership election.
Mr Major, 47, will visit the Queen at 1030 BST tomorrow to be formally
appointed and will return to Downing Street as the youngest British leader
this century.
The current Chancellor of the Exchequer did not achieve the majority
required for an absolute victory, but the margin was clear enough for his
rivals to withdraw and a third ballot was avoided.
Mr Major - who has been in parliament for only 11 years - said he was
enormously encouraged so many had voted for him and would discharge his
responsibilities to the best of his ability.
Current Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher resigned after Michael
Heseltine challenged her for the leadership and close friends said she
would lose.
The outcome of the ballot was announced by the chairman of the
influential Tory backbench 1922 Committee, Cranley Onslow.
Mr Major received 185 votes, Mr Heseltine 131, and Foreign Secretary
Douglas Hurd trailed in with just 85.
The Huntingdon MP needed just two more votes for an absolute majority.
But within minutes of the results being read out both Mr Major's
challengers withdrew from the contest.
Mr Heseltine said it had been a campaign fought between colleagues
without rancour and one which
laid the foundations of unity in the party.
And Mr Hurd told reporters he was convinced Mr Major was the right man
to lead the party.
Mrs Thatcher also endorsed the new premier, saying she was thrilled
with the choice.
"I want everyone in the party to rally behind him," she said.
Mr Major said he looked forward to leading the party to further
victories.
"We're going to unite totally and absolutely and we're going to win the
next general election," he said.