Kenneth Clarke

British politician · United Kingdom · On the map · Politicians · Born 1940 · age 86

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.

Kenneth Clarke is read about 242 times a day, in 25 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 104 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2019“I wouldn't reject it if it was the only way forward.”In their words16 August 2019Said in a Radio 4 interview on 16 August 2019 and quoted by the BBC. Ken Clarke: I wouldn't rule out becoming prime minister Retrieved 16Read the whole statement

“If the Conservative Party cannot think of anything else to do it has a leadership contest.”In their words5 July 2019Said on Any Questions? on 5 July 2019 and quoted by The Express. Weston, Katie (5 July 2019) Crowd erupts as Ken Clarke warns Hammond willRead the whole statement

“At the moment I save the House of Commons from having Dennis Skinner as father of the house by 25 minutes”In their words27 June 2019Said in an interview with the Guardian's Peter Walker, 27 June 2019. Walker, Peter (27 June 2019) Ken Clarke: a parliamentary careerRead the whole statement

2017“All political careers are a rollercoaster.”In their words5 February 2017Said in an interview with the Guardian's Esther Addley, 5 February 2017. Addley, Esther (5 February 2017) Ken Clarke on Brexit: ‘I’ve neverRead the whole statement

“No one has officially told me that I have lost the Tory whip. The fault’s probably mine.”In their wordsSaid after Clarke voted against the government on the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) Bill 2017-19. Boris Johnson had promised toRead the whole statement

2014Order of the Companions of HonourAward1995“I don't think the Conservative Party could win an election in 1,000 years on this ultra right-wing programme.”In their wordsSaid during the 1995 Conservative leadership election of John Redwood, the challenger to John Major. Quoted in the Independent on 27 JuneRead the whole statement

1980King's CounselAward1940Born2 July 1940

People around Kenneth

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Photos 6

Clarke as Chancellor of the Exchequer

Clarke as Lord Chancellor, 2011

Rt Hon. Kenneth Clarke MP in 2012

Clarke sitting on the backbenches alongside Theresa May, Sir Alan Duncan and Liam Fox, 19 October 2019

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In their own words 4

Kenneth Clarke

4 statements, newest first

I don’t want the new leader to make me parliamentary under-secretary for nuts and bolts.
27 June 2019 · Said in an interview with the Guardian's Peter Walker, 27 June 2019. Walker, Peter (27 June 2019) Veteran Tory MP Ken Clarke: 'I'm minded, Own words
When we negotiate trade agreements in the future, we will be pressing other countries to open up their public procurement processes to genuine, fair, international competition.
26 March 2018 · Speech in the House of Commons (26 March 2018) on the awarding of the contract for the production of new UK passports to Franco-Dutch firm, Own words
The referendum is not binding.
2016 · Written in a letter to constituents after the 2016 EU referendum and quoted in the Guardian. Asthana, Anushka and Mason, Rowena (13, Own words

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Awards

Order of the Companions of Honour2014

King's Counsel1980

About this person

A member of the Conservative Party, he was Member of Parliament (MP) for Rushcliffe from 1970 to 2019, serving as Father of the House of Commons between 2017 and 2019. 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.

Country

United Kingdom