In the meeting he stated that the Conservatives in office could make more spending cuts than they were promising in their campaign (including in their manifesto) before the general election.

The Arundel and South Downs Conservative Association initially refused to seek a new candidate, but it reversed its position when Conservative Central Office threatened it with the "Slough treatment", referring to the suspension of that association for refusing to deselect Adrian Hilton.

Amid speculation, Flight confirmed that he would not stand as an independent and would not oppose any decision by the Association to deselect him.

Anne Marie Morris, Laura Sandys, and Nick Herbert put themselves forward for nomination as replacement candidates.

On 19 November 2010, it was announced that Flight was to be created a life peer and would sit as a Conservative in the House of Lords.