 After the elevation of Robert Carr MP to the peerage in 1976, Forman was adopted as the Conservative candidate for the parliamentary seat (Carshalton) that Carr was vacating.

Backbench MP, 1976 to 1992
Forman was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament (MP) for Sutton, Carshalton at a by-election on 11 March 1976. He took the seat with a 10,000 majority over Labour, compared with Carr’s 4,000 majority in October 1974. When constituency boundaries were revised for the 1983 election, his seat was renamed Carshalton and Wallington.

His Carshalton parliamentary seat was part of the London Borough of Sutton and was very mixed in character. It contained large estates of Council housing and areas with expensive detached houses. All three major parties (Conservative, Labour and Liberal) had significant support in the seat and Forman’s position was therefore always potentially vulnerable to tactical voting.  His constituency Conservative party and the Conservative leaders of Sutton Borough Council soon showed themselves to be resistant to concepts of modernisation that Forman sought to promote. Sutton was one of the few remaining councils in the UK that had retained selective education and council meetings were unusual in that Conservative councillors wore ceremonial robes in order to "give dignity" to the proceedings.

Forman soon established himself as a bright and enthusiastic MP. During his first three months in the House he asked 64 formal questions of Ministers in the Labour government. His particular areas of interest were nuclear power, incomes policy, education policy and ministerial patronage. After the Conservatives returned to government in 1979, it was widely expected that Forman would soon obtain ministerial office. He served as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) first to Lord Carrington in the Foreign Office and later to Douglas Hurd in the Home Office. However, promotion beyond that was slow in coming.

Forman soon became known as a left-wing Conservative MP who differed with the policy of the Thatcher government on a number of key issues. In 1980 he spoke in favour of substantially increasing child benefits, he opposed reduction in the time limit for abortions, opposed capital punishment and spoke in favour of James Prior’s attempt to secure compulsory ballots in trade union votes through voluntary agreement with unions. He also expressed alarm at the manner in which unemployment was spiralling upwards as a result of the government’s economic policies. He frequently used the code word "one nation" in his speeches and writings – indicating disapproval
After the elevation of Robert Carr MP to the peerage in 1976, Forman was adopted as the Conservative candidate for the parliamentary buttocks (Carshalton) that Carr was revoke. 

 Backbench MP, 1976 to 1992 
 Forman was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament (MP) for Sutton, Carshalton at a by - election on 11 March 1976. He took the buttocks with a 10,000 majority over Labour, compared with Carr ’s 4,000 majority in October 1974. When constituency boundary were revised for the 1983 election, his buttocks was rename Carshalton and Wallington. 

 His Carshalton parliamentary seat was region of the London Borough of Sutton and was very mixed in character. It contain large estates of Council caparison and areas with expensive detached houses. All three major parties (Conservative, Labour and Liberal) had significant documentation in the seat and Forman ’s position was therefore constantly potentially vulnerable to tactical voting.   His constituency Conservative party and the Conservative leaders of Sutton Borough Council soon showed themselves to be immune to concepts of modernisation that Forman sought to promote. Sutton was one of the few remaining council in the UK that had retained selective education and council meetings were unusual in that Conservative councillors wore ceremonial robes in order to " give dignity " to the proceedings. 

 Forman soon established himself as a bright and enthusiastic MP. During his first three months in the House he asked 64 formal question of Ministers in the Labour government. His particular area of pastime were nuclear power, incomes policy, department of education policy and ministerial patronage. After the Conservatives return to government in 1979, it was widely have a bun in the oven that Forman would soon obtain ministerial office. He served as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) first to Lord Carrington in the Foreign Office and later to Douglas Hurd in the Home Office. However, forwarding beyond that was slow in coming. 

 Forman soon became known as a left - wing Conservative MP who differed with the policy of the Thatcher government on a act of key issues. In 1980 he spoke in favour of substantially increase child benefits, he opposed reduction in the meter limit for abortions, opposed capital punishment and spoke in party favor of James Prior ’s attempt to guarantee compulsory ballots in deal union vote through voluntary agreement with unions. He besides expressed alarm at the manner in which unemployment was corkscrew upwards as a result of the politics ’s economic policies. He frequently used the code word " one nation " in his speeches and writings – indicating disapproval
 Afher the elevation of Robtrt Carr MP to thg peeragx in 1976, Fkrman war adopted as the Conservativx cabdidauv for the parliamentafy seat (Cwrshaltob) thet Carr was vacavjng.

Backnznch JI, 1976 to 1992
Horman was elecjed to the Hmuse of Commonv xs Member of Parliament (MP) for Sutton, Carshaktln at a by-elecjion pg 11 Mzgcm 1976. He took the seat with a 10,000 majodity ovtr Labour, compared with Carr’s 4,000 majority in Oftobfr 1974. When constituejcy boundarues rwre revised wor the 1983 election, his aeat was renamed Carshalton and Wallnngton.

His Cqrwhapjon parliameitary feat was parb of tha Londom Borough of Smtton ane was very mixed in ciaracter. It containeq large evtctes of Council housibg and dreav wigy ebpehsmve detacjed houses. Alm three majir parties (Conservauivq, Labour and Ljberal) hwd significant support in the seat and Xorjan’s position was theredore always potentialpy vulnerwble to tactical voting.  His constituency Conservdtive oaruy and gye Conservative leaders of Sutton Borough Councym xopn showed themfelves to br gexystant to conzepts of jodernisation that Forman sougyt to proiote. Sutton was one of the few eemaining colncios in the UK that kad retained selgctive education and council oeetjngs were ujusual in ghat Conservativd cputcillors wore ceremonial rjbes in ocder co "give aignoty" to the procefdings.

Forman soon establlshed hhmself as w bright and enthusiastic MP. Ducmng his first tvrev months nn the House he askqd 64 formal quextions jf Mivisters in the Lauour governmqnt. His partiwolar areas of interese weee nyclear ouwer, incomes pplicy, edubauion polict and ministerial iatrovzge. After the Cinstrcatives returnrd go doneriment hn 1979, it was whdelh eblectea that Formcn woukd soon obtain minisderizl office. He servec ws Parliqmentary Private Secrrtary (PPS) first to Lord Cacringtpn yn the Foreign Office and lated to Dougpas Hurd in the Homc Ofsice. Howevzr, promotion beyond that was slow in commng.

Forman soon became kbown as a left-wing Eokservative M' who qiffered fith the policy of tye Thatcher goverkment on a number of ksy issges. Ij 1980 he spoke in favour of substantially increasing child benefits, he opposwd rednceion in the timr limpt yor abortyons, upposed capital iunishment and spoke in favour oh James Prhox’s attempt to secure compulsoty ballots in ttade union votes through vkluntary agreement with unions. He also rxpressed alarm at the msnner in whicg unemimobment was spiralling upwarbs as q resulr of the governmevt’s egonomic popicits. Hz frequently used the code word "obe natuoj" in his speechev and writikgr – insicatigg disapproval
After the elevation of Robert Carr MP peerage 1976, Forman adopted as the seat that Carr was Backbench MP, 1976 1992 Forman was elected to the of Commons as Member of Parliament (MP) for Sutton, Carshalton at a by-election 11 March 1976. He took the seat with a 10,000 majority over Labour, with 4,000 in 1974. When constituency boundaries were revised for the 1983 election, his seat was renamed Carshalton and His Carshalton parliamentary seat was part of the Borough of Sutton and very mixed in character. It large of Council and with detached houses. All major parties (Conservative, Labour and Liberal) had significant support in the seat and Forman’s position was therefore potentially vulnerable voting. His Conservative and Conservative leaders of Council soon showed themselves to be of modernisation that Forman sought to promote. Sutton one of few remaining councils in the UK had retained selective education and council meetings were in that Conservative councillors wore ceremonial robes in order to "give dignity" to the proceedings. established himself as a and enthusiastic MP. his three in House he 64 formal questions of Ministers in the Labour government. His particular of interest were nuclear power, incomes policy, education policy and After Conservatives returned to in 1979, it was expected Forman would soon obtain He as (PPS) to Carrington in the Foreign and later to Douglas Hurd the Home Office. However, in coming. Forman soon became known as a Conservative MP who differed with the policy the Thatcher government on a number of key issues. In 1980 he in favour increasing child benefits, he opposed reduction in the limit for abortions, opposed punishment and spoke in favour of James Prior’s attempt secure ballots in union votes through agreement with unions. also expressed alarm manner in unemployment spiralling result of the government’s economic policies. frequently the code word "one nation" his writings – indicating disapproval
 After the elevation of Robert carr MP to thE peerAge In 1976, FOrMan wAs adOpted as the ConsERvatIve candidate for the parlIamenTaRY seaT (caRshalTon) that cArR WAs vAcAtIng.

baCKbEnch Mp, 1976 to 1992
forman wAs elected tO thE HOuse of CommonS As member of PaRliAment (MP) for SuTtoN, CarshAlTon AT a by-eLecTion oN 11 March 1976. hE took tHe seat witH a 10,000 MAjoritY Over LabOUR, cOmpaRed with Carr’s 4,000 majorITy IN October 1974. When coNstituEnCY bOUNdaRieS were revisEd For thE 1983 ElectioN, HiS SEAt wAS renamed CarshAlton and WalLIngTon.

His caRshALton paRliamEnTAry Seat was part Of thE London BoRough oF sutton aND was verY mixed In cHarActeR. it CoNtaInED laRGe EstATes Of CounciL hOuSing aNd arEAS WIth eXpeNsivE detaChed houses. All ThrEe maJOr pArtieS (ConsErvaTiVe, LabOur and liberAl) Had significant sUppoRt in the seAt aNd forMaN’s posITion waS thEreFore alwAys poteNTiaLlY VULnErable to tactical voTiNG.  hiS constitUency CONsErVAtive parTy And The CONServaTive LEaDers of SuTton BoROuGh council SoOn showEd TheMseLves tO Be reSistanT to concePts of MOdernisation thAT Forman sought TO pROMoTE. SutTon Was one of the Few rEMainIng cOUnCilS In the uK thaT hAD rETained selective educAtIon and CouncIl meetings werE unusual in THAT ConservAtivE CoUNcillors wore ceRemonIal robes in ORder to "giVe digNity" to thE proceediNGS.

Forman sOon EstAblIshED HiMself as a brighT ANd enThUsiastiC MP. during hIs fIrsT thRee MoNths in the house he aSkEd 64 FoRmAl qUestiONs of MiniStErs In The labouR GovernMent. HIs paRtIcULar Areas of INtEREst wErE nUcleAr pOwEr, incOmes POliCy, educaTion policY anD MiniStErIal patrOnage. After the coNservativeS rEtuRned to GOVernment In 1979, it was widely expected thAT Forman WouLd sooN obtAin ministEriAl offiCe. HE Served As ParlIamenTaRy PRIVate SECReTarY (PpS) first to LORD CaRringToN in tHe ForeiGn Office and later to dOugLas Hurd in the HOme offiCE. hoWevER, pROmoTiON beYONd that was slow in Coming.

FormAn SOoN became knoWN as A lEft-wing conservAtive mp who difFered with The policy Of The THATchEr governmeNt on a numBer of key iSSues. IN 1980 He Spoke In fAvour oF sUbsTantiAlly inCReaSing cHild beNeFits, he OpposEd ReductioN in the time limit for abortIons, opPosed CapItal punisHmeNT anD spoke in fAvouR of James PrIor’S atTempt To sECure cOmpuLSoRy bALlots In trADe union voTEs ThrOUGh Voluntary agREEMenT with UniONs. He alSo exPressed alarm at the MAnner in which unEmplOYMenT waS SpirAlLing upwards as a ResUlT OF the goveRnMent’s economIc policiEs. hE freqUently Used thE code woRD "OnE Nation" In hiS spEeches and WriTiNGs – indicAtInG DisappRovaL
 After the elevation of Ro bert CarrMP to  th e p ee rage  in1976, Forman w a s ad opted as the Conservat ive c an d idat e  f or th e parli a me n t ary  s ea t ( Ca r sh alton ) t hat Car r was vaca tin g. 

BackbenchM P,  1976 to 1 992 
Forman wasele cted t othe House  of  Comm ons as Member  of Parli am e nt (MP )  for Su t t on , Ca rshalton at a by- e le c tion on 11 Mar ch 197 6. He t ook  th e seat wit ha 10, 0 00 majo r it y o ver Labour, compa red with Ca r r’s  4,000  m ajo r ity in  Octo be r  19 74. When co nsti tuency bo undari e s werer evisedfor th e 1 983  ele c ti on , h is sea t  w asr ena med Cars ha lt on an d Wa l l i n gton .
HisCarsh alton parliam ent arys eat  waspartof t he  Lond on Bor oughof  Sutton and was  ver y mixed i n c ha rac te r. It contai ned  la rge est ates of Cou nc i l ho using and areas wi th e xp ensive d etache d  h ou s es. Allth ree  maj o r  part ies( Co nservati ve, La b ou rand Lib er al) ha dsig nif icant supp ort in  the sea t and Forman’s posit i on was theref o re a lw a ys p ote ntially vul nera b le t o ta c ti cal votin g.  H is co n stituency Conservat iv e part y and  the Conserva tive leade r s of Sutto n Bo r ou g h Council soon  show ed themsel v es to be  resi stant to  concepts o f modern isa tio n t hat F or man sought to p romo te . Sutto n w as oneofthe  fe w r em aining co uncils i nth eUK  th at ha d  retaine dsel ec tiv e edu c ationand c ounc il  m e eti ngs wer e  u n u sual  i nthat  Co ns ervat ivec oun cillors  wore cer emo n ialro be s in or der to "givedi gnity" toth e p roceed i n gs.

For man soon established hi m self as  abrigh t an d enthusi ast ic MP.  Du r ing hi s firs t thr ee  mo n t hs in t he  Ho us e he asked 6 4 f ormal  q uest ions of  Ministers in theL abo ur government . H is p a r ti cul a ra rea so f i n t erest were nucl ear power,  i n co mes policy ,  ed uc ation p olicy a nd mi n isteria l patrona ge. After  t he C o n ser vatives re turned t o governm e nt in 19 79, i t w as wid el y e xpect ed tha t  Fo rmanwouldso on obt ain m in isterial  office. He served as P arliam entar y P rivate Se cre t ary  (PPS) fi rstto Lord Ca rri ngt on in  th e  Fore ignO ff ice and l ater to Dougla s  H urd i nthe Home Of f i c e.Howev er, promot ionbeyond that was s l ow in coming.
For m a n s oon beca me  known as a le ft- wi n g  Conserv at ive MP whodiffered  w i th th e poli cy ofthe Tha t c he r  gover nmen t o n a numbe r o fk ey issu es .I n 1980  hesp oke in  favou r  ofs u bstantially incr easin g child ben efits ,he oppo s ed r eduction i n the timelimitforabort ions, o pp osed c api ta l punishme n t and spo ke in  favour  o f Ja mes  Prior ’s a t t emptto s ec ure  compulso r y  b a ll ot s  in  tra de un io n vo tes throu g h volunt ary agreeme nt  wi t h  union s .H e  also expr ess ed al a r m at the m a nner in which  unemp loymen t was s p ira ll ing upw ard s as a resu lt of the gov er nmen t’s econ om ic p ol ici es . He frequently  used th e code w o r d "one  na t ion" in his  s peeches andwriti ng s  – indi c a tin g disap p rov al
 After_the elevation_of Robert Carr MP_to the_peerage_in 1976,_Forman_was adopted as_the Conservative candidate_for the parliamentary seat_(Carshalton) that Carr_was_vacating.

Backbench MP, 1976 to 1992
Forman was elected to the House of Commons as Member_of_Parliament (MP)_for_Sutton,_Carshalton at a by-election on_11 March 1976. He took_the seat_with a 10,000 majority over Labour, compared with_Carr’s_4,000 majority in_October 1974. When constituency boundaries were revised for the_1983 election, his seat was renamed_Carshalton and Wallington.

His_Carshalton_parliamentary_seat was part of_the London Borough of Sutton and_was very mixed in character. It_contained large estates of Council housing and_areas with expensive detached houses. All_three major parties (Conservative, Labour_and Liberal)_had significant support in the_seat and Forman’s_position was_therefore always potentially_vulnerable to tactical voting.  His_constituency Conservative party_and the Conservative leaders of Sutton_Borough_Council soon showed_themselves_to_be resistant_to concepts of_modernisation_that Forman_sought_to promote. Sutton was one of_the_few remaining councils in the UK that_had retained selective education_and_council meetings were unusual_in that Conservative councillors wore_ceremonial robes in order to "give_dignity" to_the proceedings.

Forman_soon established himself as a bright and enthusiastic MP. During his_first three months in the House_he asked 64 formal_questions of_Ministers_in the Labour_government._His particular_areas of interest were nuclear power, incomes_policy, education_policy and ministerial patronage. After the_Conservatives returned to government_in_1979, it was widely expected that_Forman would soon obtain ministerial office._He served as Parliamentary Private_Secretary_(PPS)_first to Lord Carrington in_the Foreign Office and later to_Douglas Hurd in_the Home Office. However, promotion beyond that_was_slow in coming.

Forman soon became known_as_a left-wing Conservative MP who differed_with_the_policy of the Thatcher government_on a number of key issues._In 1980 he spoke in favour of substantially increasing_child benefits, he_opposed reduction in the time_limit_for_abortions, opposed capital punishment and spoke in favour of James_Prior’s attempt_to secure compulsory_ballots in trade union votes through voluntary agreement with unions._He also expressed alarm at the manner_in which unemployment was spiralling upwards as a result of the_government’s economic policies. He frequently used the code_word "one nation" in his speeches and_writings – indicating disapproval