LONDON, Oct 29: Britain’s opposition Conservatives ousted their leader Iain Duncan Smith on Wednesday and will now cast around for their third chief since Prime Minister Tony Blair snatched power from them in 1997.

Sir Michael Spicer, head of a committee representing the 165 Conservative members of parliament (MPs), said they had voted by 90 to 75 to force Duncan Smith out.

Potential successors will now have to submit their names for the leadership contest by 1200 GMT next Thursday, Mr Spicer said. The first ballot on a new leader will take place on Nov 11.

According to rules, MPs will elect two names that will then be put to party activists.—Reuters