I'll bring Tories back up to strength, says Portillo

Former Cabinet Minister Michael Portillo today pledged to bring the Conservatives "back up to strength" in the House of Commons after being elected MP for Kensington and Chelsea.

Former Cabinet Minister Michael Portillo today pledged to bring the Conservatives "back up to strength" in the House of Commons after being elected MP for Kensington and Chelsea.

Mr Portillo took the true-blue Tory seat with a relatively modest majority of 6,706, below Alan Clark's 10,000 majority at the last General Election but still better than many in his party had feared.

Tory leader William Hague, speaking in his constituency of Richmond in North Yorkshire, said that although he was not planning any immediate changes to the Shadow Cabinet as a result of the by-election, Mr Portillo would be a "great ally".

"I'm very pleased with the result," he said.

"He fought a very good campaign, a very impressive campaign and it rounds off a year in which we've been making a lot of gains in elections.

"There won't be any immediate changes to the Shadow Cabinet. We've got a new and talented Member of Parliament and I think he will be a great ally for me and a great asset for the party."

Mr Hague brushed off suggestions that Mr Portillo would soon be challenging him for the leadership, adding: "He gives me tremendous support. He's got great qualities and great talents and we want to make sure these talents are used in the party."

Responding to Mr Portillo's comments about bringing the Conservatives "back up to strength", Mr Hague said: "We lost a Member of Parliament in Alan Clark and this does bring us back up to strength.

"He brings us up to strength and adds a bit more as well."

Seen as Tory leader in waiting by so many, both in and outside the party, Mr Portillo was at pains to remain "on message".

But emerging from his Belgravia home in London he appeared to acknowledge that the Conservative presence in the Commons had been found wanting in his absence.

"I am very pleased to be back in the House of Commons looking forward to doing the work, representing the people of Kensington and Chelsea and bringing the Conservative team back up to strength," he said.

With a turnout of just 29.8%, Mr Portillo managed a moderate swing of 4.35% from Labour to Conservative in the by-election.

And the former Defence Secretary pronounced himself well satisfied with what he described as "a splendid result".

But while party insiders had feared the outcome would be far worse, it will increase fears that leader William Hague is far from realising his ambition of revitalising the party after its general election drubbing.

Cabinet Office Minister Ian McCartney said today that Mr Portillo's return to the Commons was a threat to Mr Hague's leadership of the Tory party.

"The grim reality for William Hague is that he now has a stalker on the backbenches.

"In the week that the Bond movie The World Is Not Enough is on general release, Michael Portillo's motto is 'Kensington and Chelsea is not enough - I want to be Tory leader'.

"This makes it the worst possible end to William Hague's worst possible week," Mr McCartney said.

Michael Heseltine, the former deputy Prime Minister, today predicted a speedy return to the frontbench for Mr Portillo.

"There'll be nothing but speculation until that matter is resolved and what's the point of mucking about. Everyone knows his qualities and we're not exactly over-burdened with them," he said.

Earlier this year Mr Heseltine warned that Mr Hague would have to "watch his back" if Mr Portillo returned to Westminster.

But today he insisted that Mr Portillo would be loyal to Mr Hague, at least for the duration of this Parliament.

"I believe that in this Parliament Michael Portillo's loyalty is absolutely bedded in concrete," he told BBC Radio 4's The World At One.

Pressed further, he added: "Nobody knows what happens in the next Parliament."