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Kenneth Clarke: Boris Johnson should 'cool it' if he wants Tory leadership Kenneth Clarke: Boris Johnson should 'cool it' if he wants Tory leadership
(6 days later)
Veteran cabinet minister Kenneth Clarke has told Boris Johnson to "cool it" if he wants to lead the Conservatives, and revealed his own 43-year political career could come to an end at the next election.Veteran cabinet minister Kenneth Clarke has told Boris Johnson to "cool it" if he wants to lead the Conservatives, and revealed his own 43-year political career could come to an end at the next election.
Clarke, who has held seven cabinet roles, said he delivered the friendly advice to the mayor of London at last year's party conference, when there was a frenzy of speculation about Johnson's ambitions.Clarke, who has held seven cabinet roles, said he delivered the friendly advice to the mayor of London at last year's party conference, when there was a frenzy of speculation about Johnson's ambitions.
He told Johnson to play down the fuss about his potential to succeed David Cameron as the job will not be up for grabs "for some years". He also said George Osborne would certainly be a "contender" to lead the Conservatives, arguing that he has played a "blinder" on the economy.He told Johnson to play down the fuss about his potential to succeed David Cameron as the job will not be up for grabs "for some years". He also said George Osborne would certainly be a "contender" to lead the Conservatives, arguing that he has played a "blinder" on the economy.
However, Clarke, who is the most experienced member of the cabinet, suggested there may well be a vacancy in his own seat of Rushcliffe in 2015.However, Clarke, who is the most experienced member of the cabinet, suggested there may well be a vacancy in his own seat of Rushcliffe in 2015.
Speaking to the parliamentary press gallery, the 73-year-old MP said he will decide within two weeks whether to stand again at the next election, having first won the safe Nottinghamshire seat in 1970.Speaking to the parliamentary press gallery, the 73-year-old MP said he will decide within two weeks whether to stand again at the next election, having first won the safe Nottinghamshire seat in 1970.
The Tory minister also revealed his concerns about a tide of "isolationism spreading through sensible members of the public" over issues such as Syria and Britain's membership of the EU.The Tory minister also revealed his concerns about a tide of "isolationism spreading through sensible members of the public" over issues such as Syria and Britain's membership of the EU.
He said a better case should be made that the "actual self-interest of individual citizens and the quality of their daily lives actually depend on our being involved in these things", including the UK's clout at the G8, the UN, in relations with the Americans and the EU.He said a better case should be made that the "actual self-interest of individual citizens and the quality of their daily lives actually depend on our being involved in these things", including the UK's clout at the G8, the UN, in relations with the Americans and the EU.
However, the senior Conservative said he believes Cameron could have won the vote over British involvement in missile strikes on Syria with a bit more time to persuade MPs, and would have a good chance of winning it in the event of another vote over the possibility of missile strikes.However, the senior Conservative said he believes Cameron could have won the vote over British involvement in missile strikes on Syria with a bit more time to persuade MPs, and would have a good chance of winning it in the event of another vote over the possibility of missile strikes.
Clarke, who voted against the Iraq war, said he strongly supported Cameron's strategy on Syria and warned that the West should be cautious and careful about the Russian plan to get Assad to give up its chemical weapons.Clarke, who voted against the Iraq war, said he strongly supported Cameron's strategy on Syria and warned that the West should be cautious and careful about the Russian plan to get Assad to give up its chemical weapons.
"We must ensure that this is genuinely going to remove these chemical weapons and then all these things can be decided," he said."We must ensure that this is genuinely going to remove these chemical weapons and then all these things can be decided," he said.
"But I think the British will be supportive of anything which genuinely looks like bringing an end to the threat of gas attacks and chemical weapons that is lurking there in Syria at the moment.""But I think the British will be supportive of anything which genuinely looks like bringing an end to the threat of gas attacks and chemical weapons that is lurking there in Syria at the moment."
He also suggested British weapons experts could be sent to Syria if they were needed as part of the Russian plan to avoid missile strikes.He also suggested British weapons experts could be sent to Syria if they were needed as part of the Russian plan to avoid missile strikes.
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