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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Clarke 'delighted' at appointment | Clarke 'delighted' at appointment |
| (41 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's good to have someone in the shadow cabinet who has supported our policy on Europe Gordon Brown Nick Robinson's blogAnalysis: 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 in a statement: "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 | 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 said he would not oppose the direction set by Mr Cameron on European policy. | |
| 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 | 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." | 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. | 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. |
| VAT support | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| David Cameron and I have never had any problems at all on any other subject and we just know we disagree on Europe Ken Clarke | |
| 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." | 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." |
| But speaking outside his home, Mr Clarke told reporters: "Peter Mandelson is much more pro-European than Gordon Brown is but in Peter's case, that's just the first part of a whole history of political and personal bad blood between them, that goes back years. | |
| "David Cameron and I have never had any problems at all on any other subject and we just know we disagree on Europe. I know that the party's not going to change its policy and I'm not going to be trying to get the party to change its policy." |