"Iain Duncan Smith said to Conservative MPs yesterday that the last 6 weeks
have been a vision of hell for him. I think I know how he feels", says
Michael Fabricant. "The last few weeks have been a nightmare for all decent
Conservative MPs and for party workers.

"When Iain spoke to us this afternoon, he did so with real passion. He has
improved so much over the last few weeks; if only he had been like this 6
months ago, all this blood letting would never have happened. I am
desperately sad at his passing. I hope that all the positive changes and
exciting policies announced at the Party Conference, yet overshadowed by
talk of disloyalty, will be kept in place together with the key management
at Conservative Central Office.

"Sadly, It is now essential that we put this ballot behind us and move
swiftly onto finding a new Leader of the Opposition. I welcome tonight’s
news that David Davis and others will support Michael Howard as Leader of
the Conservative Party. I hope that other candidates will now think twice
before standing against this team. It would be quite awful if the Party had
to endure two months of paralysis selecting a Leader when such a powerful
and broad team is already in place. They have my support. I hope the
Parliamentary Party can now unite behind them and begin to provide real
opposition to this Labour Government which has failed to deliver on its
promises."