Clarke 'will get Tories in power'
BBC News Online
Ex-chancellor Ken Clarke has launched his bid to be the next Conservative leader saying he is "popular" enough to get the party back into power. Clarke, 65, posed on Wednesday for photos with backers including MPs Tim Yeo, Ann Widdecombe and John Bercow.He is due to set out his plans for the party during a speech on Thursday. It is the Rushcliffe MP's third attempt to win the Tory leadership - his pro-euro views were blamed for his defeats in 1997 and 2001. He now says his enthusiasm for UK euro membership has cooled. He told the Daily Mail the issue was not a barrier to him leading the party. "I said that the question of Britain's admission wouldn't arise for at least 10 years. "That's not controversial, it's pure blind obvious. I don't think we're going to have any more silly arguments about treaties and constitutions. The constitution is dead." Clarke's potential rivals include shadow cabinet ministers David Davis, David Cameron, Liam Fox, Andrew Lansley, Theresa May and David Willetts.
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