It was one of the oddest pairings in politics. At the 2001 General Election William Hague's top two frontbenchers were the socially liberal Michael Portillo and the socially conservative Ann Widdecombe. Let's just say that they didn't always get along.
Conservative Party members have already voted to put Ann Widdecombe in the Lords. There's just the small matter now of the next government to agree.
PoliticsHome are polling today on whether Michael Portillo should be appointed to the red benches, too. What do ConHome readers think?
A former Defence Secretary and leadership candidate. Chairman of the Man Booker Prize Jury. Serial media pundit. Full biog on his website.
I dislike Michael Portillo's blood-on-the-carpet modernising but I admire his foreign policy outlook. I'd support his nomination but there is the question of whether he would take the Tory whip. I'm not sure he's still a party member. He certainly didn't vote for Boris.
Tim Montgomerie
