Profile: Kenneth Clarke

Kenneth Clarke has risen from the political dead to mount what must be his third and final bid for the Tory leadership.

Dubbed a 'big beast' who could mount the strongest challenge to Gordon Brown at the next election, Clarke has attempted to shake-off his pro-European credentials as he makes a play to succeed Michael Howard.

A popular and robust figure, Clarke built a strong reputation throughout the 1980s and 1990s as a competent, at times hard-line, minister.

Clarke's reputation as a beer-swilling, jazz-loving, hush puppy-wearing, cigar-smoking bird-watcher plays well with voters who see him as a politician in the 'bloke next door' mould.

But his past support for the European single currency and his links to British American Tobacco could prove to be major stumbling blocks to his challenge.

Support

Last defeated by Iain Duncan Smith after the 2001 election, Clarke had all but given up the hope of leading his party.

But the prospect of going head-to-head with Brown, and the looming change in the Tory leadership election rules, have been enough to coax Clarke back to the frontline.

While he has lost several key supporters to the camps of both David Cameron and David Davis, he still enjoys the support of senior Conservatives including Ann Widdecombe and Tim Yeo.

John Bercow, now seen as one of the most ardent Tory modernisers, has also pledged his support to the former chancellor.

One of just a handful of MPs to serve as a minister every day of the last 18 years of Conservative government, he held several top jobs including health secretary, education secretary and home secretary, finally becoming chancellor under John Major.

He introduced an internal market in the NHS and took on the teaching unions at the then Department of Education and Science.

As chancellor he bequeathed a strong economic legacy to his Labour successor - the man he would surely face at the next general election.

Left-winger?

The MP for Rushcliffe is often dubbed a 'left-winger' by his critics.

In reality, however, Clarke's time at the Home Office and as health secretary reveal a politician with a firm grip and strong centre-right credentials.

A populist at heart, the single biggest obstacle to Clarke securing the Tory crown is his uncompromising pro-European views.

Clarke was a staunch advocate of the single currency - only this week renouncing the issue as dead in his political lifetime.

A contestant in the 1997 leadership election, Clarke angered some supporters with his unsuccessful 11th hour "dream ticket" deal with John Redwood.

The bid, dubbed "desperate" by some, played badly with members of the Tory Reform Group who refused to forgive Redwood for his challenge to John Major in 1995.

Double defeat

A second bid for the leadership foundered after Clarke was defeated by Duncan Smith in an election among rank-and-file Tories, having topped the poll of MPs.

But the likely return of the franchise to MPs alone has brought him back into the game.

Talk of a dream ticket this time around with Cameron was dismissed by his rival.

Since being defeated by Duncan Smith, Clarke used his time out of the political limelight to pursue lucrative business interests, working for British American Tobacco among others.

He has consistently refused offers of other frontbench jobs, claiming he is only interested in being prime minister.

For Clarke this will be his final bite of the cherry. Success would deliver the Tory leadership to a candidate known to worry Labour's top dogs - possibly paving the way for a pensioner in Number 10.

Defeat would finally bring an end to one of most colourful frontline political careers of the modern era.