Britain's former chancellor Mr Kenneth Clarke said today he would like to be Conservative Party leader but would not decide whether to stand as a candidate for 10 days.
|
Mr Clarke, an enthusiastic European strongly in favour of Britain joining the single currency, said: "I would like to be leader of the Conservative Party and I have not given up my ambition yet to one day be prime minister."
But he told ITN television news he had to consider whether he could lead a party which carried out a eurosceptic election campaign.
Mr Clarke (60) is seen as a figure who appeals to voters but his pro-Europe views would cause difficulty if he became leader of a Tory party deeply split on the issue.
Yesterday shadow chancellor Mr Michael Portillo became the first confirmed candidate to put his name forward for the leadership.
Mr Portillo, the favourite, is anti-euro but says his party needs a more "internationalist" outlook.
Shortly afterwards the Thatcherite shadow defence secretary Mr Iain Duncan Smith said he was thinking about challenging for the party's top job too.
Tory interior affairs spokeswoman Ms Ann Widdecombe, on the right wing of the party, had already indicated she is contemplating a leadership bid.
AFP