Clarke: Europe won’t be a major issue in Tory leadership campaign
The French “no” vote on the European constitution should mean that Europe will not be a major issue in the forthcoming Conservative leadership contest, Kenneth Clarke has said.
The former cChancellor, seen by some Tory colleagues as too pro-European to lead the party in the past said: “It does mean that Europe won’t feature very much in that, I think.”
“And given that the party was having European civil wars five years ago that is probably a good thing,” he told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One.
Mr Clarke refused to be drawn on whether he was now more likely to stand as a candidate in the election, expected towards the end of the year, but said he would make the decision “when the time comes”.
His comments follow the announcement by former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, who yesterday said he is considering putting himself forward as the next Conservative leader.
Asked whether he was planning a leadership bid, Sir Malcolm told the BBC’s World This Weekend: “It is possible. I might be.”
But he stressed that any potential contenders for the Tory crown should wait until Michael Howard formally steps down before announcing their candidacy.
“The leadership campaign hasn’t begun yet, despite some appearances to the contrary from certain quarters, so I think it is wise to take a decision on these matters when Michael Howard announces that he is stepping down,” he said.
Meanwhile David Davis, a favourite to take over the helm, refuted rumours that his supporters are trying to force Mr Howard out early.
The Shadow Home Secretary told the Sunday Telegraph his party colleagues should adopt a “calm frame of mind” and unite behind Mr Howard until new rules for the leadership are announced.
Mr Howard, who announced his intention to stand down as Tory leader following the May 5 election defeat, has said he wants to remain in the job until reforms are adopted to select his successor, around the time of the party’s October conference.
