Top Tories question Clarke bid
Former chancellor Kenneth Clarke has come under attack from sections of the Conservative party over his suitability as the successor to Michael Howard as leader.
Former party chairman Lord Tebbit accused Mr Clarke of being “lazy” and flagged up Mr Clarke’s connections with British American Tobacco, saying the public would disagree with the appointment.
The peer told the Mail on Sunday Mr Clarke was a good man but not necessarily a good leader.
“He will be smeared up hill and down dale as a merchant of death because of his long-standing connections with the tobacco industry. And he is just too lazy.
“He admitted he had not bothered to read the Maastricht Treaty when we were in power. That was typical.”
Lord Tebbit agreed with leadership rival Sir Malcolm Rifkind and pro-Tory businessman Stuart Wheeler who said Mr Clarke’s pro-Europe views were his Achilles’ heel.
The peer said: “In recent years, Europe has been one of the most important political issues and Ken got it wrong. You need better judgement than that to be prime minister.”
Mr Wheeler, a party fundraiser, told the Observer Mr Clarke would split the party “from top to bottom” over Europe if elected.
Shadow chancellor George Osborne, who believes shadow education secretary David Cameron is the right man for the job, said the party needed a more youthful candidate than Mr Clarke.
Mr Osborne said for the party to connect with younger voters and create fresh ideas, Mr Cameron was the only choice.
“When I look at what David Cameron is offering and when I think about what the party needs to be saying to the electorate, not now, but in 2009 or 2010, I like his energy, his enthusiasm, his innovative ideas, and I think that is the way forward for us,” he said.
The attacks came as foreign affairs spokesman Dr Liam Fox announced his candidature.
Dr Fox’s is expected to formally launch his leadership campaign in a speech in London on Thursday.
Shadow home secretary David Davis is the current bookies’ favourite to land the top Tory job.
Read profiles of the Tory leadership candidates.
