Rifkind set for Commons comeback

Rifkind lost his seat in 1997

Ex-Cabinet minister Sir Malcolm Rifkind has won the chance of a political comeback with his selection for one of the Conservatives' safest seats.

The former foreign secretary fought off competition to succeed Michael Portillo in Kensington and Chelsea, west London.

Speaking after his selection he said he was "delighted with the result" and looked forward to being a "first class MP" for the constituency.

Sir Malcolm lost his last parliamentary seat in Edinburgh at the 1997 election.

Asked if he had been nervous about the selection process, he replied: "I was absolutely terrified.

"It was a difficult challenge because the local Conservatives wanted to put us all on our mettle and there was no mercy shown.

"All the candidates were very strong and able people and I was very conscious of that."

Fortunes reversed

Before Wednesday's vote at Kensington Town Hall, all the would-be MPs were grilled in front of almost 1,000 local Conservative Party members by journalist and broadcaster Andrew Neil.

Sir Malcolm was then chosen ahead of Nick Hurd, the son of ex-Cabinet minister Douglas Hurd, and local councillors Warwick Lightfoot and Mary Weale.

Although the voting figures have not been disclosed, it is understood the result was overwhelmingly in his favour and decided in the first round of voting.

The constituency is probably the country's most high profile Conservative-held seat - Mr Portillo won it in the by-election forced by the death of maverick ex-minister and diarist Alan Clark.

Last chance

Sir Malcolm's selection comes after several previous attempts to return to Parliament since his 1997 ousting failed. Last year he failed to be short-listed as the Tory candidate for Windsor.

Mr Portillo has decided to step down as an MP at the next election to pursue other interests.

He previously represented Enfield Southgate from 1984 - a seat he lost to Stephen Twigg in what became one of the iconic moments of the 1997 general election.

He stood unsuccessfully for the Conservative Party leadership in 2001.