Howard defends leader selection

Michael Howard has not said publicly which candidate he voted for.

The outgoing Conservative leader, Michael Howard, has defended the way the party is selecting his successor.

The new Tory leader will be named on Tuesday - following a long leadership election and seven months after Mr Howard said he intended to stand down.

Mr Howard told the BBC it was healthy the party had had a lengthy debate about its future direction.

The last such debate led to Margaret Thatcher's election and on to "18 years of Conservative government", he added.

Mr Howard announced he was stepping down following the party's general election defeat in May.

'Good precedent'

He told Julian Worricker on Five Live that the last time the Tories had a lengthy debate on their future direction was "after our second election defeat in 1974".

"That led, some months later, to the election of Margaret Thatcher, and that led to our victory in 1979 and 18 years of Conservative government, so I hope it's a good precedent to follow," he said.

He also told Mr Worricker although he had not achieved what he hoped by winning the election, he had left the party in "better shape" than when he took over.

"I hope I have built some foundations on which my successor can build and take us to victory at the next election," he said.

Conservative members' ballot papers have to be in by Monday

Mr Howard said the Conservatives did make progress in the election by gaining "many more MPs".

He said the Tory leadership contenders, David Cameron and David Davis, were "both excellent candidates".

But he would not be drawn on which man he had voted for.

He did say he voted three or four weeks ago, and said it was "very, very clear" that whoever won, the whole Conservative party must unite behind him.

Mr Howard added his immediate plans were to watch Liverpool play in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

In the longer term, he was looking forward to returning to the Commons' backbenches.