London - Former transport minister, Mr Steve Norris, jumped back into the lead in the Tory mayoral race last night after topping a ballot of party members. Just five days after his bid was thrown out by the party's mayoral panel, Mr Norris (54) polled 354 votes to Mr Andrew Boff's 210, who came in second place.
Both men now go forward to a postal ballot of 40,000 Tory party members which will decide which of them secures the party's candidacy.
Ballot papers will go out on Thursday, 23 December, and a decision is expected in mid-January.
Mr Norris said the result made "good sense" because both he and Mr Boff were opposed to Tory legislation in Clause 28 banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools.
Mr Norris' supporters had argued that as the one "big name" in the running, it was vital he was given a chance if the party was to have any hope of beating Labour in the May elections.