George William Russell
Irish writer, editor, critic, poet, and artistic painter (1867-1935)
Kenneth Clarke is a prominent British politician who has served in various Cabinet positions, including Home Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer. He is known for his pro-European views and has been a member of the Conservative Party since 1970, representing the Rushcliffe constituency until 2019. Despite facing leadership defeats, he remains a influential figure in British politics.
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About the Kenneth Clarke
Kenneth Harry Clarke, Baron Clarke of Nottingham, is a British politician who served as Home Secretary from 1992 to 1993 and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1993 to 1997. A member of the Conservative Party, he was Member of Parliamentfor Rushcliffe from 1970 to 2019 and was Father of the House of Commons between 2017 and 2019. The President of the Tory Reform Group since 1997, he is a one-nation conservative who identifies with economically and socially liberal views.
Clarke served in the Cabinets of Margaret Thatcher and John Major as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1987 to 1988, Health Secretary from 1988 to 1990, and Education Secretary from 1990 to 1992. He held two of the Great Offices of State as Home Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer. He contested the Conservative Party leadership three times–in 1997, 2001 and 2005–being defeated each time. Opinion polls indicated he was more popular with the general public than with his party, whose generally Eurosceptic stance did not chime with his pro-European views. Under the coalition government of David Cameron, he returned to the Cabinet as Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor from 2010 to 2012 and Minister without Portfolio from 2012 to 2014. He was also the United Kingdom Anti-Corruption Champion from 2010 to 2014.
The Conservative whip was withdrawn from him in September 2019 because he and 20 other MPs voted with the Opposition on a motion; for the remainder of his time in Parliament he sat as an independent, though still on the government benches. He stood down as an MP at the 2019 general election and was thereafter appointed by Boris Johnson as a Conservative Member of the House of Lords in September 2020.
Clarke is President of the Conservative Europe Group, Co-President of the pro-EU body British Influence and Vice-President of the European Movement UK. Described by the press as a ‘Big Beast’ of British politics, his total time as a minister is the fifth-longest in the modern era. He has spent over 20 years serving under Prime Ministers Edward Heath, Margaret Thatcher, John Major and David Cameron. He was one of only five ministersto serve throughout the whole 18 years of the Thatcher-Major governments, which represents the longest uninterrupted ministerial service in Britain since Lord Palmerston in the early 19th century.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenneth Clarke has held several high-profile political roles, including serving as Home Secretary from 1992 to 1993, Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1993 to 1997, and in various other Cabinet positions under Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major.
Kenneth Clarke is a member of the Conservative Party and has represented the Rushcliffe constituency as an MP from 1970 to 2019. He is considered a one-nation conservative with economically and socially liberal views.
Kenneth Clarke contested the Conservative Party leadership three times – in 1997, 2001, and 2005 – but was defeated each time.
Kenneth Clarke is known for his pro-European views, which have sometimes put him at odds with the generally Eurosceptic stance of his party. He is the President of the Conservative Europe Group and Co-President of the pro-EU body British Influence.
Kenneth Clarke has spent over 20 years serving as a minister under Prime Ministers Edward Heath, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, and David Cameron, making his total ministerial service one of the longest in the modern era.
In September 2019, the Conservative whip was withdrawn from Kenneth Clarke and 20 other MPs because they voted with the Opposition on a motion. For the remainder of his time in Parliament, he sat as an independent, though still on the government benches.
After standing down as an MP in the 2019 general election, Kenneth Clarke was appointed by Boris Johnson as a Conservative Member of the House of Lords in September 2020.
12 Quotes by Kenneth Clarke
- 1.
Energetic action on debt would make a radical difference to the prospects of many of the poorest countries in the world, at no practical cost to creditor countries.
Kenneth ClarkeBritish politician (born 1940)
- 2.
I am getting frustrated by the fact that we have been out of office for eight years. I desperately want to lead the Conservative Party to make quicker progress back into power.
Kenneth ClarkeBritish politician (born 1940)
- 3.
Of course I’d have loved to be Prime Minister. But I’m not nursing a grievance.
Kenneth ClarkeBritish politician (born 1940)
- 4.
The political health of Britain has deteriorated very sharply. The Conservative Party must do something about it. I am the man to do it.
Kenneth ClarkeBritish politician (born 1940)
- 5.
If the prime minister really believes it, he must be the only person left who thinks that the recent bombs in London had no connection at all with his policy in Iraq.
Kenneth ClarkeBritish politician (born 1940)
- 6.
My sense is that the majority of Conservatives share my reservations about how we got into Iraq.
Kenneth ClarkeBritish politician (born 1940)
- 7.
The Blair government has lowered the standing of politics and politicians in our country.
Kenneth ClarkeBritish politician (born 1940)
- 8.
I cannot remember a time in opposition – I am talking about the last four years – when we have done less work on policy and more on slogans. But because of my European views I wasn’t allowed to participate.
Kenneth ClarkeBritish politician (born 1940)
- 9.
It would be immoral to walk away from the consequences of our actions, leaving behind anarchy and civil war in Iraq.
Kenneth ClarkeBritish politician (born 1940)
- 10.
I am sorry to upset my colleagues by saying we wasted four years in opposition, but if you do get so badly defeated as a party you do have to face up to some painful facts and you do have to change.
Kenneth ClarkeBritish politician (born 1940)
- 11.
However, we do not lack anti-terrorist laws. I do not believe that the recent London bombs were the result of any deficiencies in our legal system.
Kenneth ClarkeBritish politician (born 1940)
- 12.
I don’t think at my age… you can start ruling people out in politics.
Kenneth ClarkeBritish politician (born 1940)