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Too risky to bring back Clarke, top Tories tell Cameron
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent5 Jan 2009
DAVID Cameron today faced opposition from senior Tories to bringing back former Chancellor Ken Clarke to the shadow cabinet.
The Tory leader is being urged by some MPs to appoint pro-European Mr Clarke as shadow business secretary to take on Labour's returned big-hitter Lord Mandelson. But some prominent Conservatives are privately strongly against such a move.
One shadow cabinet member told The Telegraph: "Ken is a great guy, he is popular, and highly effective at attacking the Government.
"But are we really going to be able to trust him to stick to the party line on Europe? Course not. He is too much of a risk."
Labour could seek to split the Tories ahead of the June European elections on subjects such as the euro and the EU treaty.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague has already responded to talk that the Government could launch fresh moves to scrap the pound by vowing that the Tories would never join the single currency - a stance that puts him at odds with Mr Clarke.
Some party donors may also be reluctant to make further financial gifts if the former Cabinet minister, now 68, returns to the front bench.
"Clarke for shadow chancellor? Over my dead body," said one donor. "I would never give the party another penny."
Mr Cameron has in the past praised senior shadow cabinet ministers including shadow chancellor George Osborne, and shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley. But privately he is said to be concerned that too few of his top team are known by the public.
The Tory leader has also reportedly stepped back from ordering his shadow cabinet members to ditch their lucrative outside interests including more than 20 directorships. His decision has fuelled speculation that Mr Clarke may be brought back as he has substantial income from work outside Parliament.
Reader views (14)
the main reason the country is in a mess is down to temporary jobs through employment agency's many operating payments tax free. in order to escape employments laws on the long term it is the government to carry the burden since these workers will not ave had any form of pensions and many not even paid in Nat. ins.
- Vincent, london, 06/01/2009 12:57
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Ken is nothing more than an articulate John Prescott - a bumbling clot with a warped brain.
- Anthony Pierce, Bromley, 06/01/2009 12:43
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clearly the issue at present is the economy and the trust the electorate has in any party moving the UK forward and getting out of recession....I ma not convinced that the electorate are concerned about blame for the current position - for example the Tories were committed to Labours spending plans but now blame Labour for running up too much debt....
Ken Clarke brings a huge amount of talent, experience and gravitas to the Tories, without him they are looking very weak on the economy......the view towards the Euro is irrelevant, he would not set policy on this and all parties have a range of views on a issue that is very dynamic.....
he is very popular with the centre ground and this is where elections are won ..
- Martin_Clerkenwell, london, 06/01/2009 10:43
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Too risky? Too right it is.
- Steve.W, B'ham UK, 05/01/2009 23:59
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I am deeply shocked by this ineptitude. When will the Tories ever wake up and learn that Clarke is their last hope for power.
- Tom, St. Albans, 05/01/2009 18:35
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It is all about confidence. Are we confident about the future of sterling or the euro's ability to give confidence? The vested interests of individuals are why we are in this mess.
If a public vote had been allowed Ken Clarke would at least have known where he stood amongst the pimply youth of today's politics.
- Peter Seekings-Foster, Mildenhall, Suffolk., 05/01/2009 17:53
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Ken Clarke is a rabid EUrophile who would have us ditch the pound and what little is left of our national sovereignty tomorrow.
The mans return would be a disaster, we may as well vote for NeuLiebour again.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 05/01/2009 15:27
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"The implacable opposition of the extreme "Eurosceptics" to Ken Clarke shows why the Conservatives are not ready to assume power".
What planet are you on Mark? I would put big money down that, as in Ireland, the majority of the UK population would would turn out to be "extreme Eurosceptics" were they allowed to vote on the issue. In fact, on any issue involving the EU. Why not give them a chance to make their wishes known. Too risky? Not arf!!
Liberal Democrats? Which new "long-term strategy" is it this week? Do us a favour mate, and get real.
- Haskey, London, 05/01/2009 15:08
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Yes the comments so far sum up the present Tory party with its Windbag Do nothing leader and its anti Euro stance.
It is time to join the Euro,so you diehards against get that into your brains or suffer another defeat to Labour
- Denis Regan, Cardiff ,wales, 05/01/2009 14:01
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Looks like Cameron agrees with the rest of us that George Osborne is just not up to the job as shadow chancellor
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 05/01/2009 13:52
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Re: Mark Horn, Bourne, UK
If the Tories " out of touch with the country " why on earth has Brown/Nu Labour not called a referendum on Europe/the Euro. The answer is most Brits want to get out. Its called reality.
- Grim Reaper, Hell, 05/01/2009 13:24
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well said Daniel-they have learned nothing but to stay biggoted partisans.Boris for prime minister, Ken Clarke for chancellor-clear out the cobwebs.
- A Moreno, Luxembourg, 05/01/2009 13:16
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The implacable opposition of the extreme "Eurosceptics" to Ken Clarke shows why the Conservatives are not ready to assume power. Labour routed out its "Militant Tendency", unfortunately the Conservative equivalent is in control of the Party, and out of touch with the country. They have fought three elections on anti-European policy, and three times they have been thrashed. Remember Hagues absurd "Ten days to save the £ campaign"? These are the same "bastards" that made John Major's life a misery - they showed no loyalty then to the Conservative Party, and they should not demand it now. Its time these anti-European extremists decamped to UKIP. Alternatively, if the Conservative Party is too far gone and can never again be a national party, Ken Clarke and the other "one nation" Conservatives need to realign politics in the center and see if an accomodation can be reached with the Liberal Democrats. This should be easier to do now that the Liberal Democrats have moved their economic policies in line with market economics. Either way, the Eurosceptics must be consigned to the wilderness where they belong.
- Mark Horn, Bourne, UK, 05/01/2009 12:06
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Ken Clarke is a real asset to the Tory party which is in deparate need of high profile politicians in the shadow cabinet. The voting public would be hard pressed to name any member of the shadow cabinet beyond Cameron for the right reasons and Osborne for the wrong reasons. Should we really pay any attention to the so-called party's grandees whose sole achievements over the last ten years or so has been to lose three general election, precisely because of their unacceptable policies (and not just that on the Euro), their inability to move on with the voters and their total lack of flexibility. Wake up and learn or we will end up with yet another defeat at the next election. Please no contribution required from the usual die hard tory contributors on this site who spend their entire life shouting and screaming how bad the labour governament is. We know that, what we need is vision, dynamism and policies to convince the electorate for the next election.
- Daniel, London, 05/01/2009 10:48
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