Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

I'm told that back in May 1999 Michael Ashcroft was one of 36 names lined up by the party leaders for working peerages, but the row over his proposed elevatiions caused quite a scare amongst all the rest.

On 24 May 1999 the appointments secretary in Downing Street, John Holroyd, wrote to all 36 nominees telling them that their names would appear in the London Gazette the following Friday as new life peers.

But then amazingly two days later Mr Holroyd wrote again to the 36 names, and announced that "for reasons beyond our control the list of working peers has had to be delayed. Your working peerage will not be announced this Friday".

This caused huge dismay amongst those expecting they'd soon be in the Lords.

"Crikey, what have I done wrong?" Was the reaction of many of them. Would they be denied their grand new titles at the very last moment?

It was only later that the proposed peers learnt that the list had been held up because of concerns about Ashcroft.

William Hague was forced to withdraw Ashcroft's name (though he successfully got him through the following year).

And the remaining 35 names were duly promoted to the Lords.