I know it was inevitable but it looks as though Ex-chancellor Ken Clarke will make a third attempt to lead the Tory party.

He made his announcement with an article in the daily Mail.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/dailymail/home.html?in_page_id=1766

He also has a website dedicated to his leadership challenge.
http://www.kenclarke.co.uk/

What do you think, is he the right person for the job, will he be able to take the fight to labour unlink most of the other leaders.

I personally think its about time the Tory's elected a candidate who has some charisma, and that Ken Clarke is the guy for the job.

Good luck ken, you have my seal of approval :clap:

* Please do not turn this into a Tory bashing thread!

I'm not a Tory voter but I do like Ken Clark, they should have picked him as leader ages ago.

I agree, he is less cretinous than the last several leaders, so he seems a logical choice (i too do not vote tory BTW).

Clarke's far too able and reasonable to land the job. It will probably go to someone unelectable like Rifkind – fingers crossed, anyway.

No he isn't the man for the job. I think the tory's need a complete overhaul. Maybe even a name change to appeal to the younger voter's much like labour did to win in 1997. I want to vote for a right wing party, the tory's say alot of positive things to me on immigration. I don't want to vote for the BNP again, I felt sick when I voted for them but there was no other alternative.

The only way the tory's will ever get back in power is to completely change their image.

I too have never been a Conservative voter, but Ken seems to have more personality than all the Tory leaders since Thatcher combined.

So on that score alone he's got to be good choice (until Boris Johnson decides to have a go, that is).

(I hesitate to say it, but the plural of Tory is Tories, not Tory's)

At least people have heard of him, I'd never heard of Ian Duncan-Smith until he became leader.

They need someone who has a record of being in public and can handle the media.

My main concern about him is that he's had a total volte-face about Europe.

I've never been a Europhile, but respected the guy for the strength of his views. These seem to hve expediently changed when the opportunity for the Leadership came up. I may be wrong, of course, and he may have had a Damascene conversion.

I like Boris, but think he might always have problems being taken seriously. The best hope they had was, in my opinion, Portillo. He would have been a serious threat to New Labour.

Joe

Not a Tory voter, but have a lot of respect for Ken Clark, and think he is probably the best option for them. I think he would be a threat to Labour.

How many times are the Conservatives going to vote in a complete Muppet who doesn't stand a chance... In fact, an actual Muppet could have done better than the last three leaders combined.

Originally posted by JoeP
The best hope they had was, in my opinion, Portillo. He would have been a serious threat to New Labour.


Portillo has no chance because of his private life, he's not conservative enough.

Originally posted by mojoworking
I too have never been a Conservative voter, but Ken seems to have more personality than all the Tory leaders since Thatcher combined.

So on that score alone he's got to be good choice (until Boris Johnson decides to have a go, that is).

(I hesitate to say it, but the plural of Tory is Tories, not Tory's)

mojoworking, tell me how long have you been a member of the grammar police :D

JoeP,

Yes I think Portillo in his day would have been a great leader who would have given Blair a run for his money. But as nick2 hinted at, being a back tickler stopped him from getting the job.

I think Ken is the right man for the job , at the moment anyhow.
But , whoever gets the job , MUST be given some hard , distinctive policies to , "bite" on . It's no good being a slightly different version of New Labour. That's why people have continued to re-elect New Labour . Why bother with a change ?
There must be millions of disaffected people in this country , ex-Labour voters , ex-Tory voters and people who don't even bother to vote ----and these ordinary , decent , hard-working people need someone to shout up for them.
They are sick to death of Political Correctness , Bungling Over-Complicated Red Tape , Yobs ruining the streets ......etc.....
If the Tories can fire them up and this , combined with their core voters and a charismatic leader , like Ken Clarke , they might stand a chance of success. Cop out on the policies though and whoever they have as leader will have a hard struggle to get them elected.

Originally posted by serapis
But as nick2 hinted at, being a back tickler stopped him from getting the job.

But how modern and radical would that be, a gay PM ?

It might even get all the right-on lefties from Labour to vote for them, otherwise they would be tortured thinking they were being homophobic.

Originally posted by nick2
It might even get all the right-on lefties from Labour to vote for them, otherwise they would be tortured thinking they were being homophobic.

Very, very true, Nick2!

I honestly don't think Portillo's private life would be a hindrance to his chances of being Tory leader or PM in today's political scene - and could possibly even gain the Tories more votes! It might help them be seen as more in touch with the modern world.

If he was interested in the job, I think Portillo would be the sort of charismatic leader that people have opinions about who might actually be able to lead a modernised Tory party to electoral success.

Other than Portillo, if they were serious about winning an election, the Conservatives should've had Ken Clarke as leader YEARS ago. I think maybe his moment has passed though - yesterday's man?

StarSparkle

PS I am not a Tory, have never been a Tory, will never be a Tory! Just cannot believe how badly they have mismanaged themselves over recent years.

Originally posted by serapis
mojoworking, tell me how long have you been a member of the grammar police :D

You have the right to remain silent...... etc :D

Well, I did apologise in advance ;)

Ken Clarke is yesterday's man. Nice guy, witty, media friendly, and can punch his weight. But he could only ever be another stop-gap leader of the Conservative party. His age and his association with the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major would weigh heavily against him when it comes to the voting intentions of the electorate.

Additionally, the Tories currently have fewer seats than Labour achieved under Michael Foot. There is no way that they can win the next election, and it will take at least two more heaves for the Tories to even dream of forming a majority government. By the election after the next one, Ken Clarke would be approximately 75, and the Tories would be choosing yet another leader.

By the next election, the new Tory leader will be pitted against a new Labour Party leader, probably Gordon Brown. The Tories first need to modernise their party, much like Kinnock and Blair did with the Labour Party. They need a modernising leader. Someone who can oversee the project through at least two successive general elections. Ken Clarke would be too old for this. In the absence of Portillo in Parliament, Cameron is their best bet. But that isn't saying much about the choice available.

Originally posted by nick2
But how modern and radical would that be, a gay PM ?



Well, the Tories chose a woman as their leader, and Margaret Thatcher became our first female PM. That was fairly radical at the time.

But there won't be a gay leader of the Tory party - Alan Duncan has already announced he has retired from the leadership race. In doing so, he issued a scathing criticism of the Conservative parliamentary party, which, in my opinion, was little short of a rebuke of the homophobes still prevelant within the Tory benches.

Yes, I think he is. If he just lost a couple of stones, and hes not too old Look at Winston Churchill. At least hes the only one whos put it straight to Blair over Iraq !

I've never voted Tory as yet, but if I was considering voting for them then I think (as I thought last time he stood) that Ken Clarke is by far the best option available.

Having said that, as someone who hates a lot of what the Conservative Party stands for, perhaps I should be encouraging them to select yet another un-electable leader. Go for Davis or Rifkind! ;)

I couldn't agree more about Portillo. He's a likeable guy, he gets the gay vote, gets the women's vote and gets my vote. Shame he gave it all up really.

I'm personally a fan of Anne Widdecombe, but she's said she's never going to stand for leader.

Originally posted by Sidla
I'm personally a fan of Anne Widdecombe, but she's said she's never going to stand for leader.

I have always liked her, and she is probably the most honest Tory MP ever. I can understand her saying she will never stand again though as she is too honest to win the leadership.

Michael Portillo gets my vote! (I love the shirts that he wears on "This Week". Also his cosy disagreements with Diane).

But I fear the Tories just can't get their act together.

My prediction for the next PM is...

Alistair Darling (http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38042000/jpg/_38042095_alistair_darling.jpg)

(Doesn't he look a bit like Father Ted?)

Originally posted by Deavon
Michael Portillo gets my vote! (I love the shirts that he wears on "This Week". Also his cosy disagreements with Diane).

But I fear the Tories just can't get their act together.

My prediction for the next PM is...

Alistair Darling (http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38042000/jpg/_38042095_alistair_darling.jpg)

(Doesn't he look a bit like Father Ted?)


Well, that would certainly please my Mum! She's had a big crush on Mr Darling for the last 20 years! :o Personally, I can't get beyond his hair being a COMPLETELY different colour from his eyebrows :gag: These things matter.... :D

On the subject of Tory MPs, I admit I reluctantly hold Anne Widdecombe in high regard - definitely one of the few honest politicians around. It's a shame that good MPs like her and Boris Johnson who're very popular with the public, partly due to their eccentricities, will never achieve high office precisely because of those eccentricities :(

StarSparkle

[. I don't want to vote for the BNP again, I felt sick when I voted for them but there was no other alternative.

I dont know why you say you feel sick for voting for the BNP? I would hope that you will continue to vote for our party as you rightly say we are the only real alternative.
As to Ken Clarke yes he will get more to vote tory but he is simply papering over the cracks in the party,but if you feel he is the one to bring the tory party back into power and you fall for all the usual lies from the CON servative party then by all means vote for them.

Bring back Enoch................

Originally posted by cloudybay
Bring back Enoch................

I didn't realise how desperate this Tory leadership campaign has become! Enoch for Tory Leader? :huh: He's been dead since 1998!

Why bother voting Tory when we already have a Conservative Prime Minister!

I don't realy think that Ken Clark has what it takes anymore to lead a party.
His U turn about Europe makes him no better than the present Labour who tend to do U turns on issues when it suits them.

They are all the same, They are looking after themselves and gain trust through deciet.

Who realy cares who is right for the job? They all end up lying through their teeth to get into a position then do as they please and bugger everyone else.

I for one will be putting my X in the box of some independent in the forthcoming elections rather than waste my vote on the lying idiots that stand for the mainstream party's.

Imagine if everyone had the same idea? That would realy put a spanner in the works!

I think we need to see the candidate's job description first, the real one before we write off Ken Clark. Who knows it may state things like convince electorate of you''re ability to be all things to all people before election and "Carry On Politicking" from date of appointment. In which case he's made for the job.

I do rate Anne Widdecombe very highly because she does speak her mind and it's often just plain common sense. How quickly would that change if she got the job?

Like delboy, however, I'm politically disaffected and I dont think that even Anne Widdecombe could change things for the Tories. Voting for Portillo because his shirts are great? As a woman, I can say he has not got my vote.

I also do not believe any of our political parties and politicians have anything useful to say. Some have nothing to say and still attract voters. I do not think the systems we've got are working. My MP is a "Blair's Boy" who, in my view, has let us all down very badly.

What will I do at the next election? I dont know. Does it matter? Yes, I think it does. Tory? New Labour? Lib Dems? They've all shown their colours. Thanks but no thanks. Single issue politicians? Strategic voting? I can see all kinds of problems.

Screaming Lord Sutch compelled me to take note of him when he refused to stand for election just after his mother died and then he died. I cant see any of those that we now have doing that.

At the end of the day whoever becomes Tory Political Leader is not going to make that much difference.

trust clarky
dont make me laugh

As a Tory voter I would say no, he isn't the right man for the job. I think he's too old (we'd have a PM in his 70s if he won the next election). I'd prefer someone younger and more right wing, such as David Cameron or Liam Fox.

Originally posted by t020
David Cameron or Liam Fox.

I've never heard of them.

I've been reading this thread with interest, however I fail to see what was wrong with Howard - decent ideas, decent chap**.

Ken's older than Michael, although not by much - but both very old (which is why Michael stepped down, as he believed that if he couldn't get the Conservative party to win, then he'd step down. Additionally, he relaised that he'd be too old as PM.

44-year-old Dr. Fox could be a possibility.

Or then again, Boris... ;)

His guest presentation of HIGNFY was amusing.

"Coconuts..." :help:

**Contradicted myself in the second paragraph.

Like many others I could never bring myself to vote Tory, though hearing Ken Clarke on Channel 4 news the other day made me feel it was the first time I'd ever heard a Tory speaking any sense (I've only been old enough to vote since the early 90s so can't talk about before then)
He will probably win a lot of votes from the undecided people who voted Labour last time, and from antiwar left-wingers (if they can swallow their disgust at voting Conservative)
I don't know whether he's the man to be challenging Gordon Brown at the next election, but if the Tories want to lift themselves up from the laughing stock they are at present I can't think of anyone better over the next couple of years.
However, I'm also hoping they choose someone utterly out of touch and irrelevant like the last 4 leaders!! As a socialist, Clarke scares me more than anyone else.

Fellow Sheffielders:

Kenneth Clarke is the right person to lead the Tories. He has all the required attributes - links to a dodgy industry (tobacco) and his age. Recent advancements in carbon dating have estimated his age to be at least 6,000 years.

As for whether they Tories will ever get back in with the next decade... very unlikely. I doubt the British public will simply swap one bunch of Right-Wing megalomaniacs for another for a third time...

Ken Clarke will bring in more votes for the Tory party than any of the others who are standing fot the leadership,so I hope they dont elect him, as he will be quite popular in the country.