6 October  2005
The Sun Editorial

"The Tories have already had a big victory this week. For the first time in years they have seen some genuine new stars created in front of their eyes. They can thank Michael Howard for that. His decision to turn the conference into a leadership contest has been brilliantly vindicated. As Howard steps down today, Tories should salute him as one of their ablest and bravest leaders. He took on the party as it lay on its deathbed, hammered sense into it, dragged it back from oblivion and planned cleverly for his succession. If the Tories one day return to Downing Street, Howard will be the man who made it possible." © The Sun