I simply think that you are what you are."Mr Norris, 54, lost in the first selection run to Lord Archer of Weston- super-Mare, who was later forced to withdraw after admitting that he asked a friend to provide a false alibi for Daily Star libel trial in 1987.Other Tory candidates for mayor include John Wilkinson, the Ruislip Northwood MP; Mark Kotecha, an Internet businessman; Bernard Gentry, a former Lambeth Conservative group leader; Baroness Miller, Tory frontbench spokeswoman on Greater London in the Lords; and businessmen Ivan Massow and Andrew Boff.Last night Lurline Champagnie, a black Conservative councillor in Harrow, announced her intention to stand. There were rumours that the former Asda chairman, Archie Norman, might also stand Nominations close today.. Mr Norris said yesterday: "As it happens, I don't take the same view as William and he has made it very clear that that's a matter for me. I think it's very healthy to have that degree of independence, and I know that William feels the same."The party needed a credible candidate, not necessarily one with a spotless personal life, he said "[The Conservatives] need someone who can actually win. However, Mr Norris said yesterday he was sure he had approval at all levels: "I wouldn't have dreamt of standing if I felt it wasn't something William Hague and his colleagues would be keen on."Mr Norris, a confirmed heterosexual who never denied tabloid reports of several affairs, briefly seemed likely to be hit by controversy over the Conservatives' stance on Section 28 of the Local Government Act, which bans the promotion of homosexuality in schools.

Shaun Woodward, the Tories' London spokesman, was sacked last week for his opposition to the rule, and Mr Norris shares his view.However, the party leadership has made it clear that mayoral candidates are not bound by the same strict rules as frontbenchers. Among Labour candidates for mayor, backbiting continued as a government minister was reported in a Sunday newspaper as saying Frank Dobson was "on the verge of a breakdown" It was also reported that he is severely depressed and could quit the race. STEVEN NORRIS, the former Tory transport minister, announced yesterday that he would rejoin the race for London mayor, after reassurance from senior figures that neither his extra-marital affairs nor his pro- gay rights stance would pose problems for the party. We do not think it is sensible to sell below the world average of 15 per cent."He said there would be no immediate consequences from the sales, but added: "If there is a major currency crisis, for example if the euro doesn't recover or sterling is given a battering, what do we have to fend off these crises?"The gold auctions were first announced by Chancellor Gordon Brown in May as part of a plan to cut Britain's gold reserves.. Yes, we bought euros as we announced at the time, but we also bought dollars and yen which have strengthened. It is a balanced portfolio." He added: "We will continue to have a balanced portfolio."Sale of the gold has seen 75 tons go under the hammer this year, with the latest sale of 25 tons taking place at the end of last month.The sales have been criticised by the World Gold Council, which has argued that when the euro is at an all-time low and there is concern about credit expansion in the United States, the UK should be considering increasing gold stocks.Gary Mead, head of research at the World Gold Council, said: "The UK before auction had 17 per cent of reserves in gold By the end of the sales we will be down to 7 per cent. He said: "The Government used proceeds to buy a balanced portfolio of currency When some currencies fall others rise.

When the Government sold part of its gold reserves in June, it invested 40 per cent of the proceeds into the euro, which has dropped by 16 per cent since its launch in January. The figure comes after the euro dropped below the psychologically important $1 point on Thursday, after months of sliding. It slipped to $0.9990, but bounced weakly back to $1.0017 by the close of trading. A spokesman for the Treasury defended the move, saying the investment was part of a balanced portfolio - 40 per cent was also invested in the dollar and 20 per cent in the Japanese yen. Like Mr Megrahi, he has had to live under armed guard since 1991 and his wife has had to work to support the family.. Before his incarceration at Camp Zeist, he lived in Tripoli, and was born in Suk Giuma in Libya.Although apparently the junior of the two accused, much of the evidence against both men is believed to come from his diary, which he said was stolen by Western intelligence officers. That bag eventually found its way onto Pan Am 103, which exploded over Lockerbie.

After putting the baggage on the plane, it is alleged that he left Malta for Tripoli on a false passport.Mr Megrahi is said to hold four Libyan passports and nine aliases. He and his children's passports were seized in 1991 when he was accused of the bombing His home in Tripoli has been under armed guard since. He has relied since 1991 on a small pension from Libyan Arab Airlines and has worked as a teacher.Meanwhile, al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, 43, is likewise believed to have been a Libyan intelligence officer, working undercover at Luqa airport, where he is claimed, under the conspiracy charge, of having been the station manager for Libyan Airlines. He has denied any involvement in the bombing, telling one reporter: "You judge me falsely I'm a quiet men.