Howard prepares to step down

London - Mr Michael Howard is to stand down as British shadow foreign secretary, it emerged last night

London - Mr Michael Howard is to stand down as British shadow foreign secretary, it emerged last night. Mr Howard (57) told the London Times that 14 years on the front-benches, in government and opposition, "was probably long enough for anyone".

Conservative Central Office confirmed Mr Howard had told the Tory leader, Mr William Hague, he wanted to return to the backbenches at the next reshuffle.

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