The Ken Clarke conundrum
James Forsyth 6:35pm
Having let the Ken Clarke hare run, the Tory leadership are faced by what happens to him dominating reshuffle coverage. If after this Cameron doesn’t bring him back there’ll be a lot of headlines about Cameron bowing to pressure from the right. But if Clarke does return, then the press—egged on by Mandelson—will start speculating about ‘Tory splits.’ (If Clarke does return, expect to see rather a lot of this pic from the Britain in Europe launch.)
Cameron’s dilemma is that Clarke’s return would boost the party in opposition—he is, whatever his faults, a highly effective media performer—but hinder it in government. The problems Clarke might cause would not be just about the Lisbon treaty but also about crime and sentencing policy and immigration and asylum, both areas where the EU limits the British government’s freedom of action. Then there is the problem that Clarke doesn’t seem to have thought a new thought since he was last in government and is reportedly sceptical of most of the leadership’s big ideas.
Ideally, Cameron would be able to have Clarke back until the election and then shunt him off into another job. But it is hard to think of something that Clarke would take — heading the new Office of Budget Responsibility is unlikely to appeal to Clarke; he’s not enough of an Atlanticist to be made Ambassador to Washington but he’s too pro-European to be a Commissioner; and the Prime Minister does not get to appoint the master of Gonville and Caius.
The one person who can resolve this problem for Cameron is Gordon Brown. If Brown does appoint David Blunkett to a Labour campaigning role that is outside the cabinet, then Cameron can appoint Clarke to shadow him and put him up on TV and radio whenever Blunkett is on. This would give the Tories the benefits of Clarke’s popularity and media skills but without the downside of him acting as a brake on policy in government.
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Verity
January 14th, 2009 7:00pm Report this commentTony Blair looks insane. We've become so accustomed to the Prime Mentalist that we forget what preceeded him.
I agree with James about Kenneth Clarke. Even if he doesn't have Blunkett to shadow, he should be in the fold if only pour encourager les autres.
Austin Barry
January 14th, 2009 7:40pm Report this commentA "highly effective media performer"? Is he, or is his gravitas negated by his pompous self-regard? Does he present as an energetic attack dog, or as a languid lap dog? Above all does he evoke the image of a no-nonsense, ass-kicking, happening dude like Obama's take-no-prisoners Rahm Emanuel, or that of a clubbable cove emerging from the bar of the Garrick circa 1956? Clarke is out of kilter with the zeitgeist - unfortunately.
TGF UKIP
January 14th, 2009 9:19pm Report this commentNice one James. The photo caption skewers it all.
skooch
January 14th, 2009 9:42pm Report this commentAustin B - sorry -
but are you Lisa Hilton?
As someone who always writes in a strangulated way, and hates it, I feel qualified to comment.
skooch.
Max Kaye
January 14th, 2009 10:29pm Report this commentIt seems that only the blind cannot see that Ken Clarke is Nu Labour's (unwitting) Trojan Horse.
Keep him out.
Verity
January 14th, 2009 11:47pm Report this commentMax Kaye - Well, that was rather gnomic. Care to expand?
Verity
January 14th, 2009 11:58pm Report this commentClarke may shadow David Blunkett if the Prime Mentalist give him a campaign role, and Max Kaye writes: "It seems that only the blind cannot see that Ken Clarke is Nu Labour's ... Trojan Horse."
A bracing lack of political correctness there, if I dare say so!
Canon Alberic
January 15th, 2009 12:08am Report this commentno no no
Keith
January 15th, 2009 7:10am Report this commentClarke might be good at shadowing Mandy or Blunkett but that's about as far as I'd employ him. He's too bound to europe for my and many others tastes.
Archie
January 15th, 2009 7:30am Report this commentSorry Verity, but I had to read both yours and Max's posts before I got it! Very funny, but I really must stop drinking that cheap wine!
luke
January 15th, 2009 11:31am Report this commentClarke could definitley go and be a european commissioner, i dont know why you rule that out?
JONNY
January 15th, 2009 11:39am Report this commentPompous self regard?
What Ken? - go-oo-ood.
Number One essential for any successful politician.
Lead me to it Austin Barry
At least it suggests Per-son-al-ity.
Ken has it in spades, and he can do his sums unlike most.
Now some of the mealymouthed don't like it one bit. As Eurosceptics they really hate Ken.
Not understanding the battle was lost and won years ago,
They want to go on fighting the wars of 92-7 and remaining unelectable.
But the public loves him.
Mainly because he's pompous, overfed, rumbustious, opinionated, and a jolly old maverick. Hush Puppies, Jazz, and a big fat cigar.
What the bloody hell's wrong with that you Euro Obsessives?
CS
January 15th, 2009 1:26pm Report this commentYou have to marvel at the blind intolerance to differing opinion on here. It wasn't differing views on the EU which damaged the Tories so badly. It was the anal determination to drive the opposing view out of the party.
You can hardly describe a shadow cabinet as split if only one of them is ardently pro-EU. Slightly chipped maybe. The fear of accusations of splits has wrought great damage in politics as politicians tell barefaced lies to pretend that they agree 100% with their leaders.
Max Kaye
January 16th, 2009 12:55am Report this commentVerity, Thank you. I trust I am correct to consider "a bracing lack of political correctness" as an accolade.
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