Norris: I am not like Archer, I will not gamble the truth

STEVE NORRIS, who now faces only Andrew Boff for the right to be Tory candidate in the race to be Mayor of London, today promised he would convince voters he deserves the job by not gambling the truth or his reputation like Jeffrey Archer.

Mr Norris, who with Mr Boff was chosen last night to go through to the final selection round in January, says he wants to draw a line under the controversy surrounding his candidacy. He would be a "nutcase to stand" if he suspected more slurs against him were likely to be leaked before the Party chooses its single, final nominee for Mayor, he said.

His successful nomination comes five days after he was ejected from the contest amid concerns about his colourful private life which included five mistresses. At a packed meeting at Holland Park School, 1,000 Conservative Party members heard six candidates present their cases. The candidates were gradually whittled down in a complicated voting system, known as exhaustive voting, until only two joint candidates remained.

Mr Norris, who won 354 votes, was joined by Mr Boff, who scored 210 votes, as the party's joint prospective candidates for Mayor, edging out Baroness Doreen Miller, who scored 162 votes. Grassroots Tories will now select either Mr Norris or Mr Boff on 17 January to fight for the Mayor's job in the elections in May.

Mr Norris told the Evening Standard after the result: "We are going to be working hard for every single vote but we will need to be a united team.

There is no gamble with me. I do not get off on gambling with the truth or with my reputation - I am not like Jeffrey Archer.

"This party has selected people who hold views which people know are minority views. I think that says a huge amount.

Many of them were what the press would like to describe as 'classic Tories'. It was a triumph for democracy."

Mr Norris's partner Emma Courtney said: "I have every confidence in him.

He is the only Conservative who can win. It will be a tough fight but I think he can beat Frank Dobson and Ken Livingstone."

Mr Boff, former leader of Hillingdon Conservatives, said his Christmas card list would now need to be expanded to 35,000 people following his joint nomination.

"I am delighted. I am elated and looking forward to January. Democracy is very messy. In the party we are very open and listen to our members. If democracy means a little bit of mess, then so be it." Mr Boff, 41, elected as a councillor in 1982, is an IT consultant. His breakthrough last night came amid tough opposition from Mr Norris, Baroness Miller, Baroness Joan Han-ham, entrepreneur Mark Kotecha and Paul Lynch, Hounslow Tory Group Leader.

Most members spoke of their delight for the joint nominees. Gerald McGregor, 50, of Chiswick, said: "Steven Norris knew his stuff. He came across as someone who knew how to handle himself and would use the levers of power with effect."

However, one member said: "I am very concerned about Steven Norris because he is controversial. Some people feel very strongly against him."

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