BBC News | UK POLITICS | Portillo rules out Hague challenge

BBC News Online: UK Politics

Sunday, 28 November, 1999, 11:20 GMT

Portillo rules out Hague challenge

Michael Portillo has said he will not challenge the Tory leadership while William Hague is still in power, despite speculation he wants to take over the party.

The former defence secretary, speaking on BBC One's Breakfast With Frost, returned to politics after winning the Kensington and Chelsea by-election last week.

William and I will show we think alike and our share dreams and vision together
Michael Portillo

He said: "If William was running as party leader, I am his loyal supporter and would never run against him."

Mr Portillo said "a lot of mischief" had been made by people saying it was his dream to lead the Tories.

"Who says it was my long-term dream? If I'd been keen to run in '95, I would have," he said, referring to his decision not to challenge then Prime Minister John Major for the leadership.

Mr Portillo said: "I thought there might have been a second round, but I wasn't prepared to run against a sitting prime minister."

He said he and Mr Hague would manage the speculation by "working together".

Mr Portillo, 46, who spent 30 months in the political wilderness after losing his Enfield Southgate seat in the 1997 general election, won the London seat with a majority of 6,706.

William Hague

He had earlier sought to spike the guns of gay campaigners, who were planning to "out" him, by admitting to having homosexual experiences in his university days.

He said having been through defeat and "other adversity", he could be "pretty clear that they do you good".

Mr Portillo said: "I welcomed being in a real world that is not politics.

"I also feel less vulnerable than I used to, and am more confident."

His time spent outside the world of politics meant he became "more aware of a broader public out there, not just Conservatives".

But despite Mr Portillo's win, the party has continued to hit headlines following last week's controversy over Lord Archer and party treasurer Michael Ashcroft.

Tough stance

"We have just got to leave Jeffrey Archer behind us," he said. Lord Archer stood down as a London mayor candidate after admitting asking a friend to lie for him during his 1987 libel trial.

"We are not going to allow people who have conducted themselves like this in our party," the MP added.

Mr Ashcroft has been accused by several newspapers of making illegal donations of millions of pounds to Conservative coffers. The payments were made overseas through his bank in Belize.

Mr Portillo rebuffed reports that he said Mr Ashcroft must go, saying instead he thought he was the " victim of a smear campaign".

Related to this story:
Portillo backing Hague (26 Nov 99 | UK Politics)
Archer rejects 'dubious' reports (28 Nov 99 | UK Politics)
Comeback for Portillo (26 Nov 99 | UK Politics)
Michael Portillo: A political rebirth (26 Nov 99 | UK Politics)
Portillo victory boosts Tories (26 Nov 99 | UK Politics)
Portillo: In his own words (09 Sep 99 | UK Politics)

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