New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
29 May 2012

Ken Clarke: the Tories would lose an election now

A revealing admission from the Justice Secretary.

By George Eaton

Ken Clarke was in mid-season form on the Today programme this morning, batting away demands for an EU referendum (“I cannot think of anything sillier to do”), declaring that the Tories would lose a general election if one were hold now and mischievously explaining his nap at Trent Bridge (“My young friends me tell me its callled chillaxing“).

Clarke’s admission that, as things stand, the Conservatives would lose an election might seem like a statement of the obvious. The latest YouGov poll puts Labour 11 points ahead of the Tories, a lead that would give Labour a majority of 118 seats on the current constituency boundaries. But given that support for the governing party tends to increase in advance of a general election, as the opposition comes under greater scrutiny, it is still a notable concession. Until recently, the Tories dismissed Labour’s poll lead on the grounds that Ed Miliband was unelectable. That they are no longer able to do so is the best evidence of how much the political weather has changed since the Budget.

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

Content from our partners
The UK’s skills shortfall is undermining growth
<strong>What kind of tax reforms would stimulate growth?</strong>