Clarke return to top Tory politics
FORMER chancellor Ken Clarke is returning to front bench politics by joining David Cameron's shadow team with the business portfolio.
Graham Dines
FORMER chancellor Ken Clarke is returning to front bench politics by joining David Cameron's shadow team with the business portfolio.
The 68 year-old, who has been on the backbenches since the Conservatives were swept from office in 1997, will be shadowing another famous returnee - Lord (Peter) Mandelson.
Mr Clarke, whose pro-European outlook makes him a hate figure with the Eurosceptic right, has said he will not rock the boat over Europe although, of course, Labour will try to drive a wedge between Clarke and Cameron.
He said he had accepted the post of shadow business secretary because he wanted to help Britain tackle “the gravest economic crisis I have known in my lifetime.”
Mr Clarke, who stood unsuccessfully for the Tory leadership three times, said his pro-European views were well-known.
Most Read
- 1 Historic former pub with permission to convert into homes set for auction
- 2 Ipswich Town installed as early League One title favourites
- 3 GALLERY: 'Stunning' turnout as Hadleigh Show returns after enforced break
- 4 5 new places to eat and drink in Woodbridge this year
- 5 Man dies after being found unresponsive in Sudbury river
- 6 Excitement builds as Suffolk Show venue wakes up
- 7 Mike Bacon: Luke Woolfenden.... going nowhere, going everywhere
- 8 Homes destroyed after blaze breaks out in terraced housing
- 9 'We're blown away' - Classic car show visits care home after roadworks setback
- 10 'I keep selling out' - Mum-of-two dreams of fudge shop as business thrives
“But I accept that the party has come to a settled view on European matters, and I will not oppose the direction David will set on European policies in the future,” he added.