BRITAIN: A clear majority of Tory MPs have already pledged support for Mr Michael Howard's seemingly unstoppable bid to succeed Mr Iain Duncan Smith as leader of the Conservative Party.
As "a coronation" rather than a full-blown leadership battle remained in prospect, the astonishing political rebirth of Mr Howard continued apace as he promised to lead a Conservative Party broad, generous, centrist and internationalist in outlook.
Mr Howard declared his candidacy before an audience of enthusiastic MPs at London's Saatchi gallery yesterday afternoon. And within hours he had returned to the task of forging a new Conservative consensus in talks with his long-time friend and rival, and twice-defeated leadership contender, Mr Kenneth Clarke.
Earlier, Mr Michael Portillo and Mr Michael Ancram followed Mr David Davis, Mr Oliver Letwin, Mr Tim Yeo and Dr Liam Fox in ruling themselves out of the race - though in Mr Ancram's case with the proviso that Mr Howard remains unopposed.
Former ministers Lord (Norman) Lamont and Mr John Gummer fuelled speculation that Mr Clarke would resist a third tilt at the Tory crown. However, while a number of leading members of the Tory left - most notably Mr Stephen Dorrell - had already declared for Mr Howard, Mr Clarke was understood to be pressing for assurances that Mr Howard intends to deliver on his promise for "a new kind of politics" and an end to the Conservative Party's "ancient feuds".
With apparent pledges from 89 MPs, Mr Clarke's endorsement would virtually clinch the leadership for Mr Howard, although Mr John Redwood was one of two right-wing MPs said still to be "considering their options". And while "sources close to" her were quoted as saying she had no intention of seeking the leadership, the present party chairwoman, Ms Theresa May, twice declined public invitations to say so.
While saying he believed Mr Howard was the best man to unite the party, Mr Ancram explained he was keeping his options open because if just one other candidate entered the race he or she would automatically join Mr Howard in a full ballot of the party members. Given the groundswell of support for Mr Howard, such an eventuality would almost certainly not reflect the wish of the parliamentary party, which would vote first in a more open contest and decide which two candidates should go to the run-off in the country.
With nominations open until next Thursday, Mr Howard became the first candidate to enter the race with a promise to offer "a new kind of politics" and to lead his party "from its centre".
The Welsh-born son of immigrants made a patriotic pitch to lead a Conservative Party "capable of representing all Britain and all Britons". His Conservative Party "will be internationalist in outlook".
Mr Howard said: "My parents were immigrants. They saw Britain as a beacon in a dark and threatening world. Conservative Britain will never flinch from confident engagement with the wider world. We know that while our obligations begin within our shores, they don't end there."
However, the keen Atlanticist Mr Howard added: "If we have concerns about the European Union, it's not because we are little Englanders or because we hark back to some bygone golden age. It's because we see it as too intrusive, too rigid for the fast-flowing networks of the era of globalisation."
In self-deprecating mode, Mr Howard said he had "learned a bit" from his 20 years in parliament: "I've learned that if we want to persuade people, we need to preach a little less and listen a bit more. I've learned that just winning an argument doesn't on its own win hearts and minds. I've learned that politicians won't be respected unless they respect each other, and that people won't trust us unless we trust them."
Having paid tribute to Mr Duncan Smith's courage, dignity and decency, Mr Howard claimed "co-ownership" of the outgoing leader's new policy agenda, signalling no departure from attempts to modernise the party and broaden its appeal. He described the Conservatives as "the longest-standing, most successful party in the history of democracy".
Seeking to bury the bitter divisions of the post-Thatcher era, Mr Howard insisted: "We won't always agree but when we differ we will do so with measured thought and reflection . . . there will be no place for ancient feuds or rankling discords."