Ken Clarke to stand for the Conservative Leadership

3.35.55pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 31st Aug 2005

No great surprise but Ken Clarke has announced he is standing for the Leadership of the Conservative Party. Ken, of course has stood twice before and lost twice before so will it be third time lucky for him?

Ken is undoubtedly one of the few remaining 'Big Beasts' of the Conservative Party who has some credibility with the General Public and is seen as the most 'human' of all the potential candidates. It is also true he is the most experienced all the candidates having been Chancellor, Health Secretary, Education Secretary and Home Secretary. His experience could well be his eventually undoing if he were to win although he stayed in most these positions for a short period he was responsible for some of the worst aspects of Thatcherism as his record will show.

I am sure the Conservative Leadership will provide more entertainment over the coming months.