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Kenneth Clarke Biography

Former Minister without portfolio

Kenneth Clarke, a former Minister without Portfolio in the United Kingdom, was born on July 2, 1940. He has been active in the British political scene for many years, holding several important positions.

Trying Politics Influence Retiring

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“A balanced tone on Europe will free us to address in depth the domestic, economic and social agenda which we neglected throughout the last parliament.”

Lasts Social Economic Europe Depth Tone Addresses Agendas Neglect Balanced Parliament Neglected

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“The Conservative Party have got to ask themselves, 'How do we persuade people who at the moment are voting Labour and Liberal Democrat to vote Conservative”

People Moments Asks Party Vote Democrat Conservative Voting Labour Conservative Party

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“I trust that whoever leads the Conservative Party actually pays regard to my advice on how we should conduct ourselves and I personally will obviously support whoever eventually wins.”

Should Winning Party Pay Support Advice Trust Regard Conservative Conservative Party

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“In these home affairs things I think occasionally it's the duty of politicians on both sides to turn round to the tabloids and right-wing newspapers and say 'you have your facts wrong and you're whipping up facts which are inaccurate”

Thinking Facts Home Turns Sides Duty Politician Wings Rounds Affair Newspapers Both Sides Right Wing Tabloids Whipping

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“I have acquired a deep and abiding respect for all those engaged in the difficult business of commerce.”

Difficult Business Engaged Commerce Abiding

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“I am certainly not a blogger. Quite a large proportion of them are nuts and extremists - with the honourable exception of the culture secretary.”

Culture Proportion Exception Nuts Secretary Extremist Bloggers

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“With the greatest respect, we do not make the criminal law on the basis of opinion polls. A majority of 9:1 could be in favour of a ban in my constituency, but I would not regard that as conclusive, and I hope that we never would. If we start having opinion polls about all the unpleasant and distasteful habits and customs of some members of society, and suggesting that their findings should be made part of the criminal law, foxhunting would come way down the list, and quite a lot of strange enactments would have to go through the House.”

Ifs Way Should Made Law House Opinion Strange Habit Members Findings Bases Regard Majority Criminals Lists Customs Hunting Favour Polls Bans Suggesting Distasteful Criminal Law Opinion Polls

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“I have never read it. You should not waste your time.”

Should Waste Economics

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“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.”

Ifs Years Facts Faces Party Four Sorry Painful Upset Opposition Four Years Defeated Colleagues I Am Sorry Am Sorry

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“I look forward to the day when the Westminster Parliament is just a council chamber in Europe”

Looks Political Politician Europe Conservative Integration Parliament Council Looking Forward Chamber Westminster

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“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.”

World Country Action Differences Perspective Cost Debt Practicals Radical Poorest Energetic Prospects Creditors Debtors

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“The political health of Britain has deteriorated very sharply. The Conservative Party must do something about it. I am the man to do it.”

Men Political Party He Man Conservative Britain Aggravation Conservative Party

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“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.”

Believe Law Results London Terrorist Bombs Deficiency Legal System

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“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.”

Want Years Has Beens Facts Party Progress Office Conservative Eight Frustrated Conservative Party

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“I don't think at my age... you can start ruling people out in politics.”

People Thinking Age Ruling

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“Of course I'd have loved to be Prime Minister. But I'm not nursing a grievance.”

Courses Ministers Prime Prime Minister Nursing Grievance

Author:Kenneth Clarke

“It would be immoral to walk away from the consequences of our actions, leaving behind anarchy and civil war in Iraq.”

War Would Be Action Walks Behinds Consequence Leaving Iraq Civil War Anarchy Immoral Our Actions Consequences Of Our Actions

Author:Kenneth Clarke

About the Author

Born: July 2, 1940
Known for: Former Minister without portfolio
Quotes: 18

Books & Sources

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