Eric doesn't come Forth

MP ERIC Forth was close to running for the Tory leadership in protest at his favoured candidate pulling out.

The Bromley and Chislehurst MP, who has long been a supporter of David Davis, was said to have been furious when his man stepped aside.

The prospect of Mr Forth putting himself forward before tomorrow’s deadline now appears unlikely but would have delighted activists.

Conservative councillor Gordon Jenkins has received numerous emails from Tories as far afield as America saying Mr Forth should stand.

Cllr Jenkins, who represents Bickley ward, said: “I told Eric he should put his name forward and I would have loved to have seen him go for it.

“A lot of us were surprised when David Davis stepped aside and I think he would have been the first choice of the majority of constituency members.

“It would have been nice to have had a choice but if Michael Howard is the only candidate then we need to unite behind him.”

It would not be the first time the area has produced a party leader, though constituency boundaries have changed since former Prime Minister Harold MacMillan led the Tories from 1957 to 1963.

Mr Forth was the most senior of 17 MPs who had not signed up to Michael Howard’s campaign by Monday, the Times newspaper reported, and he could lose his shadow cabinet post when the new leader takes over.

Mr Davis first sparked talk of Mr Howard’s “coronation” by announcing he would not run against the former Home Secretary 45 minutes after the Tories voted to replace Iain Duncan Smith.

But some of his team, which included Old Bexley and Sidcup MP Derek Conway, were reportedly outraged having already campaigned among colleagues on his behalf.

Mr Forth, who was shadow leader of the house for two years, was not by Mr Davis’ side when he announced he was “standing aside” outside the House of Commons last Wednesday.

Though outspoken on a range of issues, Mr Forth declined News Shopper’s requests for an interview and his constituency office would not comment.

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