TORY LEADERSHIP: Lib Dems plot to `decapitate' Tory.(News) From: The Independent (London, England) | Date: October 31, 2003| Author: | COPYRIGHT 2003 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

Byline: Ben Russell Political Correspondent

MICHAEL HOWARD faces an aggressive "decapitation" campaign by the Liberal Democrats at the next election, designed to leave the Conservative Party leaderless.

If Mr Howard wins the Tory leadership crown, Liberal Democrat strategists are planning to launch a by-election style blitz on his Folkestone and Hythe constituency in an attempt to persuade Labour voters to switch their vote to the Liberal Democrats and throw out one of the last leading Thatcherite figures.

Mr Howard has a majority of 5,907 over Peter Carroll. But the ...