Michael Portillo

Michael Portillo's successor for one of the country's safest Conservative seats will be chosen tonight.

Former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind is the current favourite out of the four finalists to be selected to represent the Tories for Kensington and Chelsea at the next election.

Also in the running is Shadow Cabinet member Tim Yeo's chief of staff, Nick Hurd, the son of another former foreign secretary Douglas Hurd.

The other two contenders are local councillors Mary Weale and Warwick Lightfoot.

Around 200 hopefuls had applied including Times columnist Daniel Finkelstein, Tory MEP Charles Tannock and former Treasury minister Phillip Oppenheim.

Colourful reputation

The selection meeting follows the decision by former defence secretary Portillo to stand down as an MP to concentrate on his media and business interests.

Portillo's majority at the last election was 8,771.

The seat has gained a high profile not just because it enabled the onetime party leadership contender Portillo to return to frontline politics.

His predecessor was Alan Clark, the colourful diarist and former minister who died of a brain tumour in 1999.

The constituency famously deselected his predecessor, Sir Nicholas Scott, in 1996.

TV grilling

Wednesday night's final selection process will be hosted for around 800 of the constituency party's members by Andrew Neil of the BBC's Daily Politics show.

He will subject the four to a TV-style grilling to test their media skills. It will be screened at the meeting in Kensington Town Hall.

"It's an acknowledgement of the part the media play in our lives," said constituency chairman Shireen Ritchie.

"Every person in public life has to communicate well, particularly a member of parliament. This will be similar to a political interview and will be very helpful for members."

Scramble for seats

After the interviews, the local party's 3,000 members will vote for their choice.

Rifkind, who has tried unsuccessfully to be selected for other seats is most likely to win.

Nick Hurd's lack of experience may count against him, according to one member of the constituency.

"He's definitely the front-runner. He's very popular and takes an active role in the constituency, which is important," said an association member.

"But his age may count against him. They don't like them too young in K and C, and he's never fought a seat at an election."