ThisisGrimsbay
12:30 - 06 October 2005
Conservative leadership challenger David Cameron has secured the backing of one of Britain's most famous Tories -
Big Brother contestant Derek Laud.
Mr Laud, who used to live in Ulceby, in North Lincolnshire, told a Tory conference fringe meeting he did not think any of the would-be leaders would make it past the auditions of the reality TV show. But the gay former speech-writer for Brigg and Cleethorpes MP Michael Brown said: "A very significant number of women vote in the Big Brother contest.
"Good looks are very important and David Cameron is very attractive."
It comes after Mr Cameron told the conference in Blackpool he wanted to switch on a whole new generation to the Conservative Party.
Mr Laud, who also helped write some of Margaret Thatcher's speeches, was speaking at a Countryside Alliance fringe meeting about the power of minorities.
Meanwhile, Tory leader Michael Howard was bringing down the curtain on his leadership of the Conservatives today with a rallying call to the party to unite behind his successor in order to take on Tony Blair's New Labour Government.
Mr Howard, who will deliver a farewell address to the Tories' annual conference in Blackpool, is quitting the job he has held since November 2003, when he replaced Iain Duncan Smith.
