LONDON - The flamboyant former minister, Mr Alan Clark, last night promised to behave in a "proper and suitable manner" after making one of the most astonishing political comebacks of recent years.
The 68 year old maverick said he was "delighted" after winning his battle to become the Tory candidate for the ultra safe Conservative seat of Kensington and Chelsea.
In a close fought selection contest at a packed Kensington Town Hall in west London, Mr Clark finally won out over Mr Martin Howe, the barrister nephew of the former foreign secretary, Lord Howe.
The nail biting battle went right to the wire as first Ms Patricia Morris and then Mr Daniel Moylan - the other short listed candidates - were eliminated in the first two rounds of voting.
Mr Clark promised his new constituency: "I am going to behave in a manner that is suitable and proper." He renewed his support for the British Prime Minister, Mr Major.
Mr Clark succeeds Sir Nicholas Scott, who failed to win reselection after an incident at last autumn's Tory conference in Bournemouth when police found him in the street and took him back to his hotel. Sir Nicholas insisted strong painkillers he was taking had reacted with a small amount of alcohol.