Eric Forth
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Eric Forth was a British Conservative politician. He served as Member of the European Parliament for Birmingham North from 1979 to 1984. He then served as Member of Parliament for Mid Worcestershire f
European Parliament portrait
Portillo moment
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The Portillo moment was the declaration of the result for the Enfield Southgate constituency in the 1997 general election, at 3:01 a.m. on 2 May 1997. The Labour Party candidate, Stephen Twigg, defeat
Eric Forth
…before leaving office in 1997. Forth had hoped to support Michael Portillo for the leadership of the Conservative Party, to follow Major, but Portillo famously lost his seat in the 1997 general election. Forth was then Peter Lilley's campaign manager until the latter withdrew, then supported John Redwood, and finally backed…
Michael Portillo, the namesake of the scenario, who lost his safe seat of Enfield Southgate in 1997
Grant Shapps sitting with Michael Portillo. Shapps' own defeat in 2024 was described as a Portillo moment.