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| Clarke heads Cameron's reshuffle | Clarke heads Cameron's reshuffle |
| (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 |
| In other reshuffle moves, Chris Grayling becomes shadow home secretary, Eric Pickles becomes party chairman and Theresa May becomes shadow work and pensions secretary. Alan Duncan, who had been covering the business brief, will replace Ms May as shadow Commons leader. | In other reshuffle moves, Chris Grayling becomes shadow home secretary, Eric Pickles becomes party chairman and Theresa May becomes shadow work and pensions secretary. Alan Duncan, who had been covering the business brief, will replace Ms May as shadow Commons leader. |
| 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 Analysis: Heavyweight returnPickles chairman in Tory shake-upShadow Cabinet: Who's Who | It's good to have someone in the shadow cabinet who has supported our policy on Europe Gordon Brown Analysis: Heavyweight returnPickles chairman in Tory shake-upShadow Cabinet: Who's Who |
| 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." | 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. | "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. |
| He said his pro-European views were "well known" but said he would not oppose the direction set by Mr Cameron on European policy. | 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 | VAT support |
| Lord Mandelson, in India on a trade mission, said: "I am an old political friend of Ken Clarke and I welcome him to his new post." | Lord Mandelson, in India on a trade mission, said: "I am an old political friend of Ken Clarke and I welcome him to his new post." |
| 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 Nick Robinson's blog | 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 Nick Robinson's blog |
| 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. | 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." | "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." |
| However the eurosceptic UK Independence Party claimed his appointment had already led one party member, a town councillor, to defect to them. | However the eurosceptic UK Independence Party claimed his appointment had already led one party member, a town councillor, to defect to them. |
| "Clarke's views on Europe are so out of line with the bulk of the Tory Party membership that they simply cannot stand being in the same party any more," said UKIP leader Nigel Farage. | "Clarke's views on Europe are so out of line with the bulk of the Tory Party membership that they simply cannot stand being in the same party any more," said UKIP leader Nigel Farage. |
| And Barry Legg, of the Conservative eurosceptic Bruges Group said it effectively meant "the end of David Cameron's promise to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution". | And Barry Legg, of the Conservative eurosceptic Bruges Group said it effectively meant "the end of David Cameron's promise to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution". |
| "Mr Clarke and his supporters within the Conservative Party have been given carte blanch to oppose the policy. The so-called 'big beast' has trampled all over Mr Cameron as the price of his return to the Conservative front bench." | "Mr Clarke and his supporters within the Conservative Party have been given carte blanch to oppose the policy. The so-called 'big beast' has trampled all over Mr Cameron as the price of his return to the Conservative front bench." |
| Other reshuffle moves include Dominic Grieve moving from shadow home secretary to shadow justice secretary. He replaces Nick Herbert, who will take on the shadow environment brief. | Other reshuffle moves include Dominic Grieve moving from shadow home secretary to shadow justice secretary. He replaces Nick Herbert, who will take on the shadow environment brief. |