Michael Howard has been named as the "elected leader" of the Conservative Party.

The 62-year-old former home secretary became the leader in what many have dubbed a "coronation" ceremony which will not be put to rank-and-file members.

Sir Michael Spicer announced the outcome of the nominations process, which closed at midday, in Commons committee room 14.

The outcome of the bloodless election process was met with a table thumping response from Tory backbenchers who gathered to hear the result be announced.

Howard went on to address a meeting of the 1922 Committee before taking his message out into the country.

"Who was it who said a week is a long time in politics?" he told MPs. "This has been a bruising period for the party. Some hard things have been said on all sides.

"But now it's time to move on. To look ahead not back. I will work tirelessly not to let you down. But I will make mistakes. And I will inevitably at times upset some of you.

"We are here to serve - the syllable at the heart of our name, and at the heart of our purpose," he added.

"We are here to work - because all of us have been sent here to safeguard our constituents and our country.

"And we are here to win. Because if we don't win we cannot put into practice the things we believe in for the good of our country.

"If we don't win we can achieve nothing - and we will be letting so many people down. "

Howard will set out the party's new direction in speech in Putney, South London before heading to Brighton tonight.

In an almost unprecedented show of unity, he was the sole MP to put his name forward following the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith.

His election became assured after senior Tories including David Davis, Kenneth Clarke and Michael Ancram announced they would not contest the leadership.

Following the announcement, party chairman Theresa May, pledged her "full support" to the new leader.

"Michael has successfully united the Party behind him and has shown his clear intention to bring all parts of the Party together to continue the work of shaping a party for the 21st century and ensuring that the Conservative Party is the credible alternative to this damaging Labour government," she said.

But health secretary John Reid immediately took to the airwaves to condemn Howard as "Mr Poll Tax".

"We are now facing a Conservative Party where the modernisers, the improvers have given in," he said. "This is someone whose policies are extreme, unfair and very much linked to the past."

And Liberal Democrat party chairman Matthew Taylor said Howard, who faces a fight to retain his own seat, would not be able to evade his past.

"As party leader, Mr Howard will serve only to remind people why the last Conservative government was so unpopular," he said.

"Mr Howard may try to convince us that he has changed, that he wants to lead a party for 'all Britain and all Britons' but, this is akin to the emperor's new clothes."

Following his election the party's board announced that it was not submitting the issue to a confirmation vote of the rank and file membership.

"Michael Howard has our full support and we send him our best wishes as he takes the party forward," said a statement.

"The board has received overwhelming representations from the party at large, and, in line with these representations, has decided not to initiate a formal postal ratification ballot."

Following a unifying speech last week is thought that Howard will attempt to move the party back to the centre-ground.

Pro-European Ian Taylor said: "For the first time in a while we have a leader who could convincingly be big enough to embrace the pro-European cause as well as standing within the eurosceptic field of the Conservative Party."

One of Howard's first tasks will be to revamp the Shadow Cabinet ahead of a self-confessed "hard slog" to the next general election.

It is thought that the new leader will hit the ground running by announcing senior appointments early on Friday.

Tipped for promotion is shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox, who is set to become party chairman.

Heavyweight shadow minister Oliver Letwin is likely to assume Treasury or foreign affairs responsibilities.

Those whose futures look to be in jeopardy include party chairman Theresa May and foreign affairs chief Michael Ancram.

Others who face demotion include shadow agriculture minister John Hayes and shadow attorney general Bill Cash.

One high level casualty could be Duncan Smith loyalist Bernard Jenkin who is widely thought to have underperformed against Geoff Hoon.

In a bid to heal divisions in the party, Howard appears set to bring back modernisers and pro-European Tories.

Former shadow agriculture minister David Curry has signalled that he would consider a comeback to the frontbench.

Whilst Kenneth Clarke has already ruled out joining the Shadow Cabinet, the Howard camp is hoping to persuade big names such as Michael Portillo and William Hague to return to active frontbench service.

Following talks with Howard, however, Clarke appears set to give a commitment to an informal public role.

Moderate MPs such as Andrew Lansley and John Bercow could also make a comeback as Howard reshapes the party's public profile.

David Davis, who stood aside to give the shadow chancellor a clear run, is also tipped for promotion.

Patrick McLoughlin, currently number two in the whips office, is in the running to become chief whip following the resignation of David Maclean.