A CONSERVATIVE MP who was sacked during last year's general election campaign over comments about Tory tax plans is heading for an astonishing political comeback.

Howard Flight, succeeded as MP for Arundel and South Downs by Nick Herbert, has been added to a list of approved candidates by Tory bosses following a meeting with party leader David Cameron.

Next week his name is expected to be included on an A-list of candidates preferred by the top brass.

It will almost guarantee that Mr Flight will be selected to fight a seat for the Tories at the next general election in 2009 or 2010.

It marks a significant reversal of fortunes for the popular constituency MP, whose deselection threw the party into turmoil in the run-up to last year's poll.

Mr Flight was blocked from re-contesting Arundel by then Tory leader Michael Howard after he appeared to suggest the party was planning a series of unannounced spending cuts if it won.

Labour seized on his remarks as evidence of a hidden Tory agenda. Arundel and South Downs Conservative Association came out in his support but Mr Howard refused to back down and for a moment it looked like Mr Flight might stand as an independent candidate.

But he stayed loyal to his party and stood aside from the constituency he had represented since 1997.

Yesterday Mr Flight told The Argus: "I intend to return to Westminster."

He said it was unlikely he would contest a Sussex seat "largely because that's a closed chapter" and ruled out a return to Arundel because "it won't be vacant".

Mr Flight denied the episode had left him bitter.

He said: "Both sides agreed it was a good idea to bury the hatchet. I remained a loyal and committed Conservative throughout and I have had a very friendly meeting with David Cameron."

Mr Flight said his comments in March 2005 about a "continuing agenda" of savings had been misrepresented.