Clarke hints at leadership bid
Kenneth Clarke has suggested he may still stand for the Conservative party leadership.
The former chancellor, who has already made two failed attempts for the job, told the Tory Reform Group last night that it would be a “real privilege” to lead the party at the next election.
His comments come as Conservative MPs are expected to reach a decision on new rules for the election of a leader, which would remove much of the input of grassroots party members and give MPs the final say.
Mr Clarke last night spoke of the need to “win back” younger voters to widen the Conservatives’ political base and prevent it becoming “a natural party of opposition”.
“The Conservative party most desperately needs to win next time to save itself from being irrelevant to the politics of the next generation and to save the country from a fourth term of a Labour government,” he said.
This had to be done by addressing the main issues of the economy, health, education and pensions to win back young professionals, ethnic minorities and key public servants “who values are instinctively Conservative” but who have drifted to Labour and the Lib Dems.
And a shadow cabinet of “political heavyweights who can present policies of depth and vision on the mainstream issues of the day” was an urgent requirement to achieving this goal, Mr Clarke said.
“As you know, I am considering whether to stand for the leadership of the Conservative party. The more I consider my options, the prospect of my becoming a candidate by the autumn becomes more attractive,” the former chancellor concluded.
“I am listening to my parliamentary colleagues. Whatever I decide, I know this, that it would be a real privilege to be the person who could lead this party from opposition to government at the next election.”
