Portillo faces 100 challengers for seat
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MICHAEL PORTILLO will face competition from more than 100 rivals to succeed Alan Clark as Conservative MP for Kensington and Chelsea.
MICHAEL PORTILLO will face competition from more than 100 rivals to succeed Alan Clark as Conservative MP for Kensington and Chelsea.
As the nominations for one of the safest Tory seats in the country closed yesterday with a deluge of applications, members of the local association warned Conservative Central Office against attempting to impose a candidate on them.
Mr Portillo is seen as the front-runner for the seat in his journey back to active politics which, his supporters hope, will eventually see him become the next Conservative leader.
The fight for the nomination promises to be colourful, with the journalist Peter Hitchens throwing his hat into the ring as the "real candidate of the right". Others seeking the nomination are Rupert Allason, former MP for Torbay, better known as the espionage author Nigel West; Hugo Swire, a former Guards officer who works at Sotheby's; and former minister Angela Rumbold. There is also a clutch of young women candidates including John Major's former press secretary and former journalist, Sheila Gunn
Nicholas Padget-Brown, chairman of the local Tory association, said: "The important thing to understand about the Conservative Party is that decisions are taken locally. I am sure we will have a number of good, high-profile candidates but at the end of the day it will be a matter for members to decide."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments