Race to Lead British Tories Deadlocks Again

LONDON — Britain’s divided Conservatives deadlocked again Tuesday in their search for a new leader to repair the ravages of a disastrous election and build an effective opposition to Prime Minister Tony Blair of the Labor Party.

Kenneth Clarke, the former finance minister, and moderate William Hague, a former Cabinet secretary for Wales, ran neck and neck in a three-man race, but both fell short of the required majority.

A Clarke-Hague face-off is scheduled for Thursday. Hague is the favorite.

Tuesday’s vote was the second attempt to choose a successor to former Prime Minister John Major as leader of a party drubbed by Labor in May 1 elections. The Conservatives had been in power for 18 years.

The first round, won by Clarke, winnowed the would-bes from five to three. Under party rules, Tuesday’s result automatically axed John Redwood, standard-bearer of the Tory right wing and an outspoken critic of any deeper British involvement in Europe.

With Redwood’s departure, Hague is favored because he is also a Euroskeptic and it is assumed that the Redwood voters will find him more palatable than the liberal Clarke.

As important in swaying votes as the European issue or left-right differences, though, is apt to be the vastly different image the candidates project.

Clarke is well known and a debater’s match for Blair, but he is an old pol and was a major figure in a losing government. The more telegenic Hague is a young, fresh face. But he is short on experience and does not always seem forceful or to have a sure grasp of issues.

The 56-year-old Clarke believes that Britain’s best long-term interests will be served by closer cooperation in Europe, including membership in a common currency union sooner rather than later.

Said Clarke: “I think it is an extremely encouraging result. I’m glad we’re now in the final furlong, but I think we’re obviously going to win.”

The 36-year-old Hague became more anti-Europe in the week between the two ballots, apparently in an attempt to lure votes from backers of two right-wing candidates who dropped out.

“I’m well satisfied with the results of the second ballot. . . . I think I now have the momentum and the support to win,” said a beaming Hague.