There has been something almost moving about the sudden outbreak of Tory euphoria accompanying the ascension (no other word seems appropriate) of Michael Howard. In a way, of course, it is slightly absurd. The new Conservative leader has been on something of a journey since the days when he was an abrasive and ideologically arrogant home secretary. But he is no messiah; rather, he is a highly capable old pro. That is not to deny the importance of what has happened. Teetering on the edge of the abyss, Conservative MPS collectively discovered the gumption to step back. By dumping the wretched Iain Duncan Smith, eschewing the destructive pleasures of a leadership contest and choosing a serious, grown-up politician to lead them, they have opted for life over death. That British politics will be changed by what has happened over a remarkable few days is certain; what is less clear, is by how much. The biggest change will be a united Conservative Party. Assuming that Mr Howard overcomes his own hitherto small "c" conservative instincts and reaches out to the party's social liberals by including a fair sprinkling of them in his frontbench team, the Tories will be less divided than at any time since Thatcher-ism's heyday. Michael Portillo may hot be willing to return to shadow cabinet duty. But if the likes of Francis Maude, Mr Por-tillo's campaign manager in 2001, and the openly homosexual Alan Duncan are given decent jobs, it will be a signal of inclu-siveness. Mr Portillo, who helped to undermine the last three leaders, will not try to repeat that with Mr Howard.
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