One down - two to go

Tory Leadership latest :

.

The first MP's ballot has resulted in Kenneth Clarke being knocked out of the battle to be the next Conservative leader.

.

Sir Michael Spicer , the Chairman of the Conservative MP's back bench group - the 1922 committee - announced this evening that 198 votes were cast (the number of Conservative MPs); Cameron received 56 votes, Clarke received 38, Davis received 62 and Liam Fox received 42.

.

David Cameron is still the bookies' favourite; a second vote will take place on thursday, then the grass roots party members will make their choice from the remaining two candidates.

.

In an inevitable twist of the Tory leadership election system, today's ballot saw MPs voting, not for the person they wanted as leader, but strategically to eliminate the person they wanted least.

.

It seems that the Conservative party, formerly the greatest political machine in the Western world, has been reduced to an organisation of fundamental negativity, devoid of meaningful policy which probably accounts for the success (so far at least) of arch 'Tory boy' Cameron.

The Conservative party members will, following the ridiculous second stage of the competion, be offered a choice of which personality they wish to lead their once great party. Politics is about ideas - the lack of any original thinking from either of the three 'wanna be' leaders is a cause for concern. Such is the state of Her Majesty's loyal opposition.

Desperandum indeed.

.

.

.

Above David Cameron - second in the ballot

.

.

.

.

.

.

.Ken Clarke - out

.

Above - David Davis - very much still in







Dr. Liam Fox - still in