Lord Archer and the former transport minister, Mr Steven Norris, were last night selected for the final short list of two to be the conservative candidate for the mayor of London.
More than 1,500 London Tories decided at a meeting in London's Methodist Central Hall that these two should fight it out in a postal ballot on October 1st to select the official Conservative candidate.
Mr Norris said: "I am delighted to have got through. It is obvious that the result of the postal ballot is open and there is all to play for. I will be doing my damnedest to be there on October 1st."
And Lord Archer said: "I am delighted by the result and would like to thank all those people who have supported me over this long period of time. It will now be hell for leather for October 1st."