Politics: Return of Team Michael looks bad news for the hapless Maude

The Week In Westminster

MICHAEL PORTILLO'S selection speech to the Kensington and Chelsea Conservative Association was so fluent that he had no need for notes at all. Taking a leaf out of Ann Widdecombe's book, Mr Portillo was even confident enough to ask the agent, Barbara Lord, for a lapel "roving" microphone so that he could steal a march on his rivals by speaking while walking up and down the platform. However, the request was refused on the grounds that the lectern microphone was the only one connected to the overflow hall.

Before the final round all candidates were handed a letter which they were required to sign confirming that if selected, they would attend every jumble sale, pie and pea supper, wine, cheese and sausage sizzle known to Tory ladies. Mr Portillo's long experience of the rubber chicken circuit obviously gave him the edge as well as his speech.

Within minutes of his selection, Mr Portillo oozed charm, power and electricity as he strode into his first press conference. The original Portillo, flanked by apparatchiks was back in business reminding hacks of the days when phalanxes of civil servants, advisers and chauffeur cars provided him with his ministerial support system.

The contrast with the lonely figure he cut walking into his first interview, a fortnight ago, could not have been more marked. Whether the new caring Portillo we glimpsed during the past two years will survive his aggressive defence of the new Hague line, "back to Thatcherism", remains to be seen.

The prospect of Mr Portillo's imminent return to the Commons (Tory MPs say that the by-election is just a rubber stamp) is unnerving some members of the shadow cabinet as speculation mounts over the job he will get and the length of time he will serve on the back benches before Mr Hague brings him into the team. Most vulnerable could be Francis Maude, whose period as shadow chancellor has been a disaster. According to a poll for the Campaign For Conservative Democracy, 52% of those questioned named Mr Hague as best Conservative performer; 28% Ann Widdecombe; 10% Andrew Lansley; 7% John Redwood. Mr Maude scored nil

JOHN REID'S meteoric rise to the Cabinet appears to have run aground with signs that the Secretary of State for Scotland is losing what remains of the depleted Scottish Office empire in the aftermath of devolution.

A turf war has broken out with Jack Straw, the Home Secretary, and Geoff Hoon, the new Secretary of State for Defence, over many of the remaining Scottish responsibilities still within the control of the British Government.

Before devolution, issues such as Scottish nuclear matters, security and telephone tapping were decided by the Scottish Secretary.

Now these "reserved matters" have been transferred to the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office. The irony is that "big picture" issues which strike at the heart of nationalist sentiment are even more centralised under Whitehall control than ever before

THE ENVIRONMENT minister, Michael Meacher, received an ear-wigging from the Leader of the Commons, Ann Taylor, for missing one of the crucial votes on incapacity benefit. Although he responded to the division bell he was so engrossed in paperwork, outside the lobby, he found himself locked out when he finally came to his senses.

DAVID RENDEL (Lib Dem., Newbury) was pulled down to size in a Commons motion tabled by Tory MPs Anthony Steen (Totnes) and Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex).

Last week's edition of the Newbury Weekly news quoted Mr Rendel as saying that Charles Kennedy "will be leading the party in Westminster and I will be leading it outside Westminster". The motion notes that it is "unusual for the contender who came last in the leadership contest actually to lead the party everywhere except in Parliament" and calls on the Government to make clear whether Mr Rendel is entitled to attend the Joint Cabinet Committee.

A spokesman for Mr Kennedy sighed when asked about Mr Rendel's ludicrous claims and replied less than effusively that "anything David can do for campaigning around the country will be most welcome".

BRIAN WHITE (Lab., Milton Keynes NE) scored a significant victory by leading the campaign to keep record copies of Acts of Parliament written on vellum (calf skin). For alleged reasons of cost and modernisation, the Lords, supported by the Commons' Administration Committee, proposed that "archival" paper should be used instead.

Mr White was having none of it and has been leading the campaign on behalf of the local firm, in his constituency, which is the sole supplier of vellum in the country. The company, which employs 12 people, would have closed but for Mr White's opposition. He argues that vellum lasts 1,500 years, whereas paper only remains useful for 250 years. In a free vote, Mr White took on and beat the Government Chief Whip, Ann Taylor, who unsuccessfully wheeled out the ministerial pay roll vote.

NICHOLAS WINTERTON (Con., Macclesfield) and Gwyneth Dunwoody (Lab., Crewe and Nantwich) will soon be installed as additional Deputy Speakers to take charge of proceedings in the new parallel "Main Committee" chamber hearings to commence in Westminster Hall on November 30.

The two fiercely independent-minded MPs (Mrs Dunwoody rebelled on the Welfare and Pension Reforms Bill) are the longest-serving members of the Speaker's Panel who have the thankless task of chairing standing committees.

Sadly, unlike the current deputy speakers there will be no additional remuneration. Mrs Dunwoody said: "Whenever there is extra work and no pay my name automatically leaps into the frame." Mr Winterton is also chairman of the Procedure Committee and will now wear three hats. Cries of "big head" greeted this news when the Commons approved his appointment.