Portillo wins Kensington's hearts and minds by a landslide
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 made a triumphant return to frontline politics last night as he clinched the Tory nomination for Kensington and Chelsea by a landslide.
Michael Portillo made a triumphant return to frontline politics last night as he clinched the Tory nomination for Kensington and Chelsea by a landslide.
Thirty months after his spectacular fall from grace at the general election, the former defence secretary secured the candidacy by 60 per cent of the vote on the first ballot.
Mr Portillo easily beat his three rivals for the nomination - the former Tory MP Derek Conway, Mark Francois, an Essex activist, and Warwick Lightfoot, a local councillor - after an assured and polished performance on the hustings.
The Conservative Party confirmed last night that the by-election, which was triggered by the death of Alan Clark, will now be held on 25 November, ensuring a short, three-week campaign.
Mr Portillo's admission of "homosexual experiences" in his youth appeared not to have damaged him at all as he won over the 1,000 party members gathered at Kensington Town Hall in west London. He successfully defused the issue by apologising for the protests staged outside the meeting by Peter Tatchell's gay rights group OutRage!
More importantly, the man seen by many Thatcherites as the lost leader of the Tory right impressed the meeting with a staunch declaration of loyalty to his party leader, William Hague. "You can't get a cigarette paper between William and me," he said. While all the other candidates claimed they would never allow the United Kingdom to join the euro, Mr Portillo stuck rigidly to the party line of ruling out the single currency only for this Parliament and the next one.
With a majority of more than 9,000 at the last election, Kensington and Chelsea is likely to ensure Mr Portillo an early return to Westminster. Senior Tory sources said he would have to "serve his time" on the back benches, but it seems certain he will be given a frontbench post within months.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Portillo said his homosexual past was "a very long time ago" and said his frank admission had put him " beyond the reach" of the gay activists. "I will not be intimidated by these people. I have told the truth. I do not regret telling the truth. Nobody in Britain should ever regret telling the truth," he said.
Ironically, Mr Portillo appeared to have benefited from a backlash against the harassment he has endured from Mr Tatchell and his fellow demonstrators.
Although a significant anti-Portillo camp had developed over the past few weeks, it has been comprehensively outmanoeuvred by the Portillo "machine".
Mr Tatchell, whom Mr Portillo avoided by entering the meeting through a side door, pledged last night to fight the by-election and follow him everywhere on the campaign trail.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments