the selection of the leader. 25 May 2005 – A consultation document on party reforms is formally circulated, including proposals to change the way the leader is elected, giving the final say to MPs and withdrawing the all-party member ballot. 27 May 2005 – Kenneth Clarke is reported to be contemplating a leadership bid. Many commentators believe that Clarke's position on the European Union will hinder a bid, as on previous occasions. 29 May 2005 – A referendum in France rejects the EU Constitution. Many commentators believe that this makes it likely that the constitution will no longer be an issue in UK politics that this removes a major obstacle to a Clarke leadership. 1 June 2005 – A referendum in the Netherlands also rejects the Constitution, reinforcing mounting speculation that the Constitution will be abandoned and that this in turn makes Kenneth Clarke a more viable contender. 2 June 2005 – Former leader Iain Duncan Smith calls for the next leader to be from "the mainstream of Eurosceptic opinion" in what is seen as a dismissal of Kenneth Clarke. 2 June 2005 – David Willets calls for the party to place a greater focus on social justice and a stronger society. 5 June 2005 – In a series of articles and interviews David Davis (British politician) sets out his vision of the Conservative Party, emphasising the need to maintain its traditional values. 5 June 2005 – Kenneth Clarke declares that he believes the Constitution "plainly is no more". 8 June 2005 – Sir Malcolm Rifkind states that it is "quite likely" he will stand for the leadership. 9 June 2005 – Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate, resigns as a Whip in order to support Rifkind's bid. 10 June 2005 – Alan Duncan becomes the first candidate to confirm his desire to seek the leadership. 13 June 2005 – Tim Yeo states in an interview that he feels there are "too many" candidates for the leadership and calls for the "plethora of would-be leaders" from the party's liberal wing to unite around a single candidate. 14 June 2005 – Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher calls for the party "to return to first principles." 15 June 2005 – At a meeting of the 1922 Backbench Committee Conservative MPs holds an indicative vote on several proposed options for electing the leader. A system where MPs select the leader with a formal consultation