Woman to Lead British Conservatives

AP ^ | 7/23/02 | SUE LEEMAN

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

LONDON -- In a reshuffle aimed at broadening its appeal, the opposition Conservative Party appointed its first female chairman Tuesday, firing an incumbent who had reportedly clashed with party leader Iain Duncan Smith.

The promotion of Theresa May, 45, the Tories' transport spokeswoman, continued her rapid rise in the party which began when she was elected to the House of Commons in 1997.

David Davis, the current party chairman, was shifted to another position in the Conservative front ranks. News reports said he had been ousted for failing to push through reforms, including recruit more women and minority candidates to run for parliament.

"I believe that the Conservative Party is changing, and my appointment as the first woman chairman symbolizes that change," May told reporters after the announcement.

"Now my message is to get that message out across the country at large under our campaign of helping the vulnerable," she said. "The Conservative Party is an open, decent and tolerant party committed to reforming public services, and we need to get that message out across the country to people."

However, the party that ruled Britain between 1979 and 1997 is struggling to improve its relatively weak position in British politics and to capitalize on growing criticism of the governing Labor Party over issues such as party financing, a growing number of strikes and Britain's crumbling health care system.

Many voters have not forgotten how the last Conservative government was dogged by alleged improprieties and divisions over Europe, and recent polls have repeatedly shown that the Tories continue to trail Labor.

Officials said May personifies the changes Duncan Smith wants to oversee to make the party more open and inclusive, especially to women and minorities.

A graduate of Oxford University, May worked for local councils before entering politics. She also has served as the Conservative spokeswoman on education and employment, and for women's issues. She was elected to represent the town of Maidenhead, west of London, in the House of Commons in the 1997 national election.

In her new position, May -- whose official title will be chairman, rather than chairwoman -- will travel the country to promote the Conservative Party and its policies.