41.   Heseltine failed, but the leadership contest fatally weakened Thatcher, and the party ousted her as prime minister and party leader later that year.

42.   Mahmoud Abbas, touted as a contender in a future Palestinian leadership contest, returned from years of exile Thursday to settle in the West Bank.

43.   Manitoba MP Inky Mark says a Day campaign, with its in-place organization, would have to be the front-runner in a party leadership contest.

44.   Major did not say when the leadership contest would begin.

45.   Major called the leadership contest hoping to quell the internecine fighting which has helped bring the government to record levels of unpopularity.

46.   Share prices fell on the London Stock Exchange Wednesday while uncertainty grew about the approaching Conservative Party leadership contest.

47.   Rumors of an immediate Conservative Party leadership contest followed.

48.   Share prices fell Friday on the London Stock Exchange, but appeared resilient following news of an upcoming Conservative Party leadership contest, traders said.

49.   The leadership contest has turned into a regional struggle.

50.   The leadership contest, originally between four contenders, was closely fought.