and I hope John Major will be the winner in that election."ElectionresultsJohn Major 218John Redwood 89Abstentions 8Spoilt papers 12. We have raised many important issues."And his rival for the right-wing crown, Michael Portillo, declared: "[Mr Major] took a very big risk and I must say I am very relieved that it has worked out so well with what I would regard as a very clear result."What is perfectly clear is that the Prime Minister is going to lead us into the next election... I believe that is the right democratic way to determine these elections."Mr Redwood said: "He won fair and square under the rules and I pay tribute to that victory I and my colleagues have fought a strong campaign. is that the time for division is over."And in a tilt at the chorus of condemnation of his leadership from the Tory press: "This election has been decided by Members of Parliament in Westminster, not commentators outside Westminster... I believe that has put to rest any question and any speculation about the leadership of the Conservative Party up to and beyond the next general election."He added: "It has aired matters of important policy interest to all of us, but the election is now over The message that I would give to every Conservative ... But it was thought unlikely in Whitehall that Mr Major would make such an offer - or that Mr Redwood would accept if he did.Mr Major said in Downing street last night: "I received the largest share of the votes that any Conservative leadership candidate has received in any seriously contested election.

If he does not become chairman, Brian Mawhinney, also tipped for the Home Office if Mr Howard moves to the Foreign Office, is a possible chairman.Sir George Gardiner, leader of the right-of-centre 92 Group and a declared Redwood supporter, urged Mr Major last night to readmit Mr Redwood to the Cabinet. Left-wingers were arguing that the loyalty they had shown Mr Major should prevent him using the reshuffle merely to appease the right. Michael Howard was strongly tipped as the new Foreign Secretary, to replace Douglas Hurd, who is retiring, though Malcolm Rifkind was not ruled out.While the election has probably extinguished Mr Heseltine's last hope of the leadership, he is certain to have an enhanced role in government - possibly as de facto deputy Prime Minister - in recognition of his and his supporters' loyalty.Mr Major held a surprise three-hour meeting with Mr Heseltine yesterday morning as voting was in full swing, provoking speculation in Westminster that he was seeking to persuade him to accept the Tory party chairmanship, possibly while also remaining as President of the Board of Trade.There were counter-suggestions in Whitehall that it would be impossible for Mr Heseltine to combine the DTI job, which he is keen to retain, with the party chairmanship. That was seen as a setback for Michael Portillo, the Employment Secretary. Baroness Thatcher congratulated Mr Major on his victory but went out of her way to commend Mr Redwood's "very respectable vote".The main surprise of yesterday's vote was that only 22 Tory MPs abstained from voting for either candidate, suggesting that the centre-left kept their word by backing Mr Major against the right instead of withholding support in the hope of securing a second ballot and opening the contest to Michael Heseltine.Although today's reshuffle could tilt the Cabinet slightly to the right, Mr Major is expected to appoint a centre-left loyalist, Alastair Goodlad, as Chief Whip. As jubilant supporters last night celebrated the outcome of Mr Major's gamble, he declared outside 10 Downing Street that "the time for division is over".The higher than expected vote for Mr Redwood vindicated his decision to challenge for the leadership and establishes the former Welsh Secretary as a new champion of the right.

It was won at the cost of exposing the depth of the fault-line within the party over Europe, domestic policy and his style of premiership, and the Opposition was quick to claim that the Tories are new "two parties" .However, Mr Major's opponents on the Tory right swiftly pledged to back him in a united fight against Labour.The Prime Minister secured the support of more than two- thirds of the parliamentary party and lifted the threat of a further contest. DONALD MACINTYRE Political Editor John Major, re-elected last night as Conservative leader by a decisive two-to-one majority, will today announce a deck-clearing Cabinet reshuffle which will include the resignation of the embattled Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Jonathan Aitken.The Prime Minister secured 218 votes from Tory MPs, to 89 for his right- wing challenger, John Redwood, in a victory which almost certainly eliminates any threat to his leadership before the next general election. From the Tories crammed into Room 14 or the Labour MPs gleefully scrumming down with the press outside.. Miners have them at the pit head, you know.""And look what happened to the miners," said Sir Marcus.As the MPs streamed into the room make their mark,outside - in what Geoffrey Boycott would describe as "the corridor of uncertainty" - a relay of Redwood supporters sat throughout the day, smiling at MPs as they arrived, as if charm would swing the floating voter.When, finally, Sir Marcus's announcement of the result was relayed on the House public address system, it was difficult know where the biggest cheer came from. "Some people are saying that the vote can't be conducted in secret. I'd like you all to come in and see there's plenty of room to vote without anyone looking over your shoulder."So everyone trooped through the room, past the black ballot box, sealed with blue ribbons, past the little pile of voting papers marked simply with the candidates' names, through the place where the future leader of the country was to be decided.Mr Skinner, who had sneaked in with the press, remarked on one omission: "No polling booths.

There was an endearingly amateurish air to the day's proceedings.After an hour's polling, Sir Marcus Fox, chairman of the 1922 Committee and the election umpire, emerged from the room and addressed the press corps corralled in the corridor. Which makes you wonder how they conduct the election for treasurer at the Altrincham Allotment Association. "But now he's called this, he'll win." After seven days of nurturing the boil, Room 12 was the place 327 Tory MPs went to lance it(two were so uncertain what to do, they never made it); 327 MPs who like to cast themselves as the most sophisticated electorate in the world. But John Major won a mandate more comfortable than anyone was anticipating at the start of the day's play Well, almost anyone. Dennis Skinner, who positioned himself early outside Committee Room 12 to enjoy the fun, was in little doubt. "I think Major ought to go, get himself a white coat and stand at the other end from Dickie Bird at the Oval," he said. Experience suggests not, in which case Mr Major will continue to argue his case to the country across the bear garden of his own party.No wonder Mr Blair was wearing the wider grin last night..

As an attempt to clear the air, it appeared until the last minute that it would be about as successful as revving a diesel truck in Mexico City. Presumably, it will be far-reaching, since it offers the prime minister one of the few opportunities remaining to him to restore his authority and the direction of his party.We shall then have to wait and see whether the 89 Tory MPs who voted yesterday for Mr Redwood are capable of the sort of behaviour which the leader of any party is entitled to expect. The next tool to hand is the Cabinet reshuffle promised for today. EMU is delayed, probably beyond the end of the decade, Chirac's France has gone cold on aspects of integration (notably ending border controls) and the impetus towards federalism is stalled.None of this explains how Mr Major is now to re-invigorate the party which has time and again made him look isolated or inept. His predecessor, Baroness Thatcher, failed properly to endorse him. The house magazines of the various Tory factions: the Mail, Telegraph and Times, all called for him to go. Despite this he won well; another success for his personal brand of decent doggedness, mixed with real cunning.But why did he win? How has it come about that Tory MPs, suffused with Euro-rancour, failed to make the same calculation as Mr Blair? It looks as though Heseltine supporters were overcome with fear that they might end up with Mr Portillo.For middle-of-the-road Tories inclined to mild Euro-scepticism, there is the fact that the issue at the heart of the party's convulsions is slowly going off the boil.