Right-wing Tory MP Liam Fox is now Conservative members’ first choice for leader

Feb 12, 2016 by Jill

by Jon Stone, Independent:

Conservative MP Liam Fox has surged into poll position as Tory activists’ preference to be the party’s next leader.

The former defence secretary came top of the ConservativeHome members’ panel survey for the first time in February.

The popular Tory website has been surveying its members’ panel for their preference for next leader since shortly after David Cameron confirmed he would step down before the next election.

Dr Fox, who is from the hard, eurosceptic right wing of his party, has surged from fifth place in December 2015 to first place in the latest of the monthly straw polls.

A strong supporter of British military intervention and Britain’s alliance with the US, the MP is a staunch eurosceptic, has called for “huge restrictions” on abortion, voted against same-sex marriage, and called for the end to ring-fenced funding of the “wasteful” NHS.

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