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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Clarke 'delighted' at appointment | Clarke 'delighted' at appointment |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Former chancellor Ken Clarke has expressed "delight" at rejoining the Conservatives' front bench team, as shadow business secretary. | Former chancellor Ken Clarke has expressed "delight" at rejoining the Conservatives' front bench team, as shadow business secretary. |
| He said he had thought carefully about returning to frontline politics and decided to do so to tackle "the gravest economic crisis I have known". | He said he had thought carefully about returning to frontline politics and decided to do so to tackle "the gravest economic crisis I have known". |
| The pro-European said he accepted the party had a "settled view" on the issue and he would not oppose its policy. | The pro-European said he accepted the party had a "settled view" on the issue and he would not oppose its policy. |
| David Cameron said Mr Clarke, 68, was a "big figure" with "great experience". | David Cameron said Mr Clarke, 68, was a "big figure" with "great experience". |
| "Ken was the last chancellor of the exchequer to lead this country out of recession. He has more experience of dealing with tough economic challenges than Gordon Brown's entire cabinet," Mr Cameron said. | "Ken was the last chancellor of the exchequer to lead this country out of recession. He has more experience of dealing with tough economic challenges than Gordon Brown's entire cabinet," Mr Cameron said. |
| Centre ground | Centre ground |
| The current shadow business secretary, Alan Duncan, will be offered another post. | The current shadow business secretary, Alan Duncan, will be offered another post. |
| Mr Clarke served as Health, Education and Home Secretaries, as well as chancellor, between 1988 and 1997. | Mr Clarke served as Health, Education and Home Secretaries, as well as chancellor, between 1988 and 1997. |
| It is going to be a historically important election, and I don't want to sit on the sidelines Ken Clarke class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/">Nick Robinson's blog class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7836773.stm">Analysis: Heavyweight return | |
| But his pro-European views, in particular his support for Britain scrapping the pound and joining the Euro, put him at odds with many in his party and are thought to have cost him the leadership in contests in 1997, 2001 and 2005. | But his pro-European views, in particular his support for Britain scrapping the pound and joining the Euro, put him at odds with many in his party and are thought to have cost him the leadership in contests in 1997, 2001 and 2005. |
| Mr Clarke said he had thought hard about whether to return to the Conservative front bench, adding: "I am doing so because this country faces a very serious situation - the gravest economic crisis I have known in my lifetime." | Mr Clarke said he had thought hard about whether to return to the Conservative front bench, adding: "I am doing so because this country faces a very serious situation - the gravest economic crisis I have known in my lifetime." |
| He said under David Cameron's leadership, the party had returned to the "centre ground of British politics" and offered a "credible alternative government". | He said under David Cameron's leadership, the party had returned to the "centre ground of British politics" and offered a "credible alternative government". |
| European policies | |
| "It is going to be a historically important election, and I don't want to sit on the sidelines - I want to be out on the pitch fighting for the change Britain needs," he said in a statement. | "It is going to be a historically important election, and I don't want to sit on the sidelines - I want to be out on the pitch fighting for the change Britain needs," he said in a statement. |
| He said his pro-European views were "well known" but added: "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 said his pro-European views were "well known" but added: "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." |
| HAVE YOUR SAYI'm not a Tory supporter or voter but Ken Clarke is one of the few politicians I trust and likeBen Platt, Liverpool Send us your comments | |
| Shadow chancellor George Osborne denied suggestions he would be overshadowed by Mr Clarke, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I've been talking to him pretty constantly for the last year, I actually was the person who first approached him and talked to him about getting more fully involved in the shadow cabinet." | |
| MP for Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire since 1970, Mr Clarke is believed to remain popular with the public, who recognise him for his love of cigars, jazz and classic cars. | |
| In his new role he will shadow Lord Mandelson, who returned to the cabinet in the October reshuffle and whose appointment coincided with a boost to Labour's previously flagging poll ratings. | In his new role he will shadow Lord Mandelson, who returned to the cabinet in the October reshuffle and whose appointment coincided with a boost to Labour's previously flagging poll ratings. |
| Mr Clarke opposed the Iraq war, which was supported by the Conservative front bench, and also suggested cutting VAT to 15% before Chancellor Alistair Darling announced the measure in November's pre-budget report. | |
| However, he later criticised the circumstances in which the government implemented the change, insisting that it could not fund the move, which has been branded "a criminal waste of money" by Mr Cameron. | |
| Asked about Mr Clarke's return, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "It's good to have someone in the shadow cabinet who has supported our policy on Europe, supported our policy on VAT and is probably quietly supportive of many of our other policies." |