Tatchell drops bid to stand against Portillo

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said today he would not be standing against ex-Cabinet minister Michael Portillo in the Kensington and Chelsea by-election.

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said today he would not be standing against ex-Cabinet minister Michael Portillo in the Kensington and Chelsea by-election.

Mr Tatchell, whose supporters from OutRage! disrupted Mr Portillo's press conference when he secured the Tory nomination for the contest, said he would still campaign against the former defence secretary.

"I don't want to split the anti-Portillo vote and can campaign equally effectively against Portillo without being a candidate," Mr Tatchell said today.

His announcement came as the Liberal Democrats were launching their campaign in the west London contest, with polling due to take place on November 25.

Lib Dem candidate Robert Woodthorpe Browne was holding a press conference at Kensington Town Hall along with the party's candidate for London mayor Susan Kramer.

Mr Tatchell said he would continue to challenge Mr Portillo on homosexual issues, after the former minister admitted to a gay episode in his past.

The Tories held the constituency at the last election with a majority of more than 9,000.

The contest was caused by the death earlier this year of former Conservative minister Alan Clark.