Tories Pick Hard-Liner as Their New Leader
The opposition Conservative Party chose hard-liner Iain Duncan Smith as its new leader, marking a turn to the right and rejecting warnings from those who said his selection would doom the Tories to political irrelevance.
In a two-man race decided by party members, Duncan Smith handily beat veteran officeholder Kenneth Clarke, 61% to 39%.
Under Britain’s parliamentary system, Duncan Smith, 47, would become prime minister if the Conservatives win the next national election, probably at least four years off.
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