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Thursday, 13 September, 2001, 18:04 GMT 19:04 UK
Duncan Smith elected Tory leader
Iain Duncan Smith arrives with wife Betsy
Iain Duncan Smith has been elected leader of the Conservative Party, beating off the challenge of Ken Clarke after an often bitter three-month battle.
He succeeds William Hague after getting the backing of 61% of the vote in the first ever leadership contest decided by party members.
In his victory speech, Mr Duncan Smith gave notice that the Tories would become obsessed with the issues that "obsess" the public, such as health and education. But he also declared that the "appalling acts" seen in America on Tuesday meant "this is not the day for party politics". The ballot was delayed 24 hours and scaled down as a mark of respect following the terrorist attacks. The result was eventually announced on Thursday at 1710 BST inside Conservative Central Office by Sir Michael Spicer, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 committee. Election victory The two contenders shook hands before Mr Clarke offered his congratulations and wished Mr Duncan Smith "every success in leading the party back to election victory". "He'll have all our support in trying to do that." Mr Duncan Smith thanked his opponent for his "immensely kind and supportive comments" and also paid tribute to Mr Hague for leading the party with "determination, courage and good humour".
"It will campaign on the issues that matter to people, the things that affect them most in their daily lives, that obsess them, these must become the things that obsess us. "The state of their public services, health, welfare, education and the environment. "We will campaign on these and we will plan to take the government on over these major issues." But those were the only partisan comments Mr Duncan Smith was prepared to make as he reflected the prevailing mood over events in America. The new Tory leader offered full support for President George W Bush and Tony Blair's action against the terrorist forces responsible for the atrocities. Act of war "What President Bush called 'an act of war' must not go unpunished," Mr Duncan Smith said. He echoed both leaders' insistence that the terror attacks were an attack on all democratic nations. Mr Duncan Smith promised he would say more on the issue during the emergency recall of parliament on Friday - his first opportunity to establish his statesmanlike credentials.
For the same reason Labour is not commenting on the new Tory leader, a spokesman saying "now is not the time for that". The tragic events across the Atlantic should also keep what would otherwise be a harsh media spotlight away from Mr Duncan Smith's first days in office. On a practical level, he can look forward to fringe benefits of being opposition leader such as an official car, a salary of £119,979 and £524,799 to fund his office. However, the scale of the task he faces is huge as he starts on the long road to reviving a party in crisis.
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