defeated." Proposal not backed by the Constitutional College When the results of the ballot of the Constitutional College of the Conservative Party were announced on 27 September 2005, the proposal had failed to gain enough backing. With a total of 1,001 (87.7% of full membership) ballots were returned, the votes in each section were: This equated to a total of 61 per cent of the constitutional college in favour. For the changes to be approved, 50 per cent of all those eligible to vote were required to vote in favour, along with 66 per cent of MPs who voted and 66 per cent of the National Convention members who voted; it is this final threshold that was not reached. As a result of this failure in the Constitutional College ballot, no changes were made to the party’s rules on electing a leader. Timeline of events 6 May 2005 – In the aftermath of the 2005 general election Michael Howard announces that there will be a review of the rules for electing a leader and that once this review is complete he will stand down. Shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin immediately confirms he will not be standing. 10 May 2005 – Michael Howard unveils the new Shadow Cabinet with most potential leadership candidates in key positions. Much speculation surrounds the appointment of George Osborne as Shadow Chancellor – facing Gordon Brown, widely expected to become the next leader of the Labour Party. 20 May 2005 – George Osborne rules himself out of the leadership contest. 21 May 2005 – A survey of local party chairmen in Conservative held seats finds that the majority of respondents are happy for MPs to select the leader. 22 May 2005 – Former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine declares that he believes Kenneth Clarke is the best candidate to lead the party, but that Clarke is "anguishing" over whether to stand. 22 May 2005 – David Davis is reported to be undecided about whether to stand, stating that he always made his mind up about "these things at the last possible minute". 23 May 2005 – Andrew Lansley calls for the party to radically reform itself, calling for the description "Reform Conservatives" to be used. He states he is undecided about whether or not to stand for the leadership. 24 May 2005 – Former leader Iain Duncan Smith cautions against proposals to remove grassroots members' say in