I cannot remember a time in opposition - I am talking about the last four years - when we have done less work on policy and more on slogans. But because of my European views I wasn't allowed to participate.

Mr Clarke who described the current prison population of 85000 as "astonishing" faced immediate criticism from some colleagues in a party renowned for its tough stance on law and order. He has contested the Conservative Party leadership three times — in 1997 2001 and 2005 — being defeated each time. Expenses scandal

On 12 May 2009 The Daily Telegraph reported that Clarke had "flipped" his council tax.

Although he is considered[by whom?] popular with the general public his pro-European views conflict with the Conservative Party's Euro-sceptic stance. He was first elected to Parliament in 1970 and appointed as a minister in Edward Heath's Government in 1972. Notably he is President of the Conservative Europe Group and Vice-President of the European Movement UK.