Billericay MP Teresa Gorman has failed in her last-minute bid to become Tory candidate for the Mayor of London.

She has told how Conservative party selectors rejected her bid, along with another five of the total 15 candidates, at an initial meeting last night.

Mrs Gorman spoke of her disappointment, but said she would add her support to the candidate who would stand against the promotion of alternative lifestyles in schools.

Her shock nomination to become the candidate for mayor came after a rival candidate for the Tory nomination, former minister Steven Norris, made comments about Clause 28, which bans schools from teaching children about homosexuality.

Prior to the rejection of her bid, Mrs Gorman said: "What triggered my decision was the remarks made at the weekend about Clause 28.

"Steve Norris was ambivalent on keeping to the party line on Clause 28 which prevents kids being handed leaflets on alternative lifestyles.

"Grown-ups would be horrified by some of the booklets introduced into schools by Labour administrations and that's why the Conservatives introduced Clause 28.

"If you're a mum in London you don't want people to be stood outside schools handing out leaflets on alternative lifestyles."

Mrs Gorman, who announced her intention to stand down from the Commons a week ago, said she was disappointed that her candidacy bid had failed, but remains adamant on the issue.

She said: "I am sorry they have not taken me seriously but naturally I will support the candidate who will support Clause 28."

"I am most grateful to the many people from all parts of the country and abroad who have telephoned and faxed my office offering me their support for my bid to become London's Mayor.

"I am naturally disappointed that mine is not one of the applications to go forward to the next stage."

The Euro-sceptic MP had described herself as the candidate for the "cabbies on the street and the ordinary Londoner" and had her bid sponsored by Southend MPs Sir Teddy Taylor and David Amess, along with local party treasurer Frank Tomlin.

The Conservatives' London executive board was expected to release a shortlist of candidates for the mayoral race later today.

Disappointed - outspoken MP Teresa Gorman has been rejected as Tory candidate for Mayor of London

'She would have led an interesting campaign'

Local Conservatives were taken by surprise by Teresa's decision to stand for Mayor of London, and agreed she would have been an interesting candidate in the mayoral race.

Tory councillor for Billericay East Peter Patrick said had Teresa been chosen she would have been the liveliest candidate by far.

He added: "It was an interesting decision by her to stand but it was classic Teresa to leap in and she would have given everybody a good run for their money.

"She would have led an interesting campaign. I don't know whether in the long term she would have been the most appropriate person for the position.

"I don't think her decision to stand down as an MP was due to her wanting to run as mayor. The decision to leap into the mayoral campaign was very much a last-minute one."

Tory councillor for Wickford South Malcolm Buckley said: "It came as a surprise as we anticipated she was retiring from front-line politics. She would have made a very interesting mayor and would have been successful in raising the profile of London on a worldwide scale."

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