Conservative MP Kensington and Chelsea

Date of birth

26 May 1953

Political profile

Michael Portillo's political career has twice been defined by a spectacular rise and fall.

After his first election to the Commons in November 1984 as MP for Enfield Southgate, he rose quickly through the ministerial ranks; a charismatic speaker, he was ideologically perfectly in tune with Margaret Thatcher, and was a prophet of privatisation.

Mr Portillo became a member of John Major's Cabinet, most notably as Secretary of State for Defence; his hardline attitude was reflected in a gung-ho conference speech in which he invoked the name of the SAS.

His leadership ambitions became known when he was caught making secret preparations for a bid in 1995 after John Redwood's challenge.

His shock defeat in 1997 was, to many observers, the defining moment of the general election.

Following his return to the Commons in a 1999 by-election, the re-invented Mr Portillo was immediately made shadow chancellor by William Hague, where he began to articulate a more caring, more socially responsible Conservatism.

After the 2001 election defeat, he finally launched a formal bid for the Tory leadership, on a platform of radical party reform and a greater emphasis on public service.

Although supported by the bulk of the outgoing shadow cabinet, he was excluded from the final poll of the party membership by a single vote, and immediately announced his intention to return to the backbenches.

In Parliament, he kept a reasonably low profile and went back to his budding television career, including a programme on Wagner's operas and his week as a single mum.

When Iain Duncan Smith was toppled as leader, Mr. Portillo stuck to his long-held line that he would not join another Tory leadership race, claiming that he could not win.

He backed Mr. Howard's candidature, but when the new leader offered him the chance to return to the shadow cabinet, he announced his intention to stand down at the next election.

Contact

Commons office: 020 7219 6212

Constituency office: 020 7352 0102/3