Rifkind to fight Kensington and Chelsea
Former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind has been selected to fight the safe Tory seat of Kensington and Chelsea at the next general election.
He will replace former defence secretary Michael Portillo, who is standing down to pursue other interests.
Sir Malcolm was elected as the prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) at a meeting of 800 local Conservative association members at Kensington Town Hall.
It is understood Sir Malcolm, one of four short-listed candidates, won on the first round.
He beat off competition from Nick Hurd, the son of ex-Cabinet minister Douglas Hurd, and local councillors Warwick Lightfoot and Mary Weale.
He now prepares to defend a majority of 8,771.
Sir Malcolm lost his Edinburgh parliamentary seat in the 1997 general election.
