British Conservative Party Rejected its Leader in Confidence Vote

Iain Duncan Smith (49), the leader of the British Conservative Party, failed to win over the majority of the party’s lawmakers in the vote of confidence on October 29, therefore losing his leadership.

It is the first time that the Conservative leader was rejected not because of the defeat in the election but due to the complaints of the party members.

The vote was 75 in Mr. Smith’s favor and 90 against him.

Mr. Smith lamented, saying, “I had hoped to be the first Conservative prime minister in the 21st century.” But he seemed to accept his defeat well, saying “I will give the next leader my absolute loyalty and support.”

The Conservative officials said candidates to replace Mr. Smith will have until November 6 to register for a first ballot of the party’s lawmakers on November 11. By eliminating the candidate with the fewest number of votes in each ballot, the lawmakers will decide the most likely contenders for the leadership, and then after the election campaign, all the party’s members across the nation will cast their vote to choose the leader.

British journalists predicted Rep. Michael Howard, a former Home Affairs minister in the John Major administration, as the candidate most likely to seek the leadership.

Jei-Gyoon Park phark@donga.com