MP's Major role in PM selection

HAD Sir Graham Bright not made a lightning-fast move in a Parliamentary lift, John Major might never have become Prime Minister.

- 

 Back in November 1990 the Conservative MP was the newly-appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Major, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, when Margaret Thatcher resigned her premiership, prompted by Michael Heseltine's leadership challenge.

Major, who publicly backed Mrs Thatcher, was convalescing at home after a wisdom tooth operation and had missed the first ballot vote of Heseltine's attempted power grab.