VETERAN Ken Clarke is to make his third bid to become Tory leader when Michael Howard steps down.
And today, the 65-year-old former Chancellor, who will be in his seventies if he becomes Prime Minister, brushed off claims that he was too old.
"At the next election, we are talking about fighting Gordon Brown and I am as capable of doing that as I ever have been," said Mr Clarke. "I'll take a particular pleasure in taking on Mr Brown and whoever he makes Chancellor."
But, as the former cabinet minister formally announced that he will stand for the Tory leadership, his age became a crucial issue. One of the leadership favourites, education spokesman David Cameron, is only 38.
Oliver Letwin, party environment spokesman, said he believed Mr Cameron was most likely to capture the hearts and souls of voters.
"It's not a question of whether Ken Clarke is too old, it's a question of whether somebody else has the potential to develop into a great leader and last a very long course," he said.
Advantages
Mr Letwin said that Ken Clarke had been a tremendously good Chancellor and had huge advantages.
"But," he said, "we are choosing a leader of the opposition for the next four years and then, we hope, he will become Prime Minister for over four years. A lot of water will pass under the bridge in that time."
But former minister Ann Widdecombe disagreed, pointing out that they had chosen young men - William Hague and Iain Duncan Smith in the past.
"We went for a young, very bright and capable person in 1997," she said. "No progress. We went for youth again in 2001. No progress.
"When we finally then handed the party over to somebody in their sixties, in the shape of Michael Howard, we made the first real electoral gains we've made for over a decade. That says to me that voters are not concerned about age. It's a fixation we've got and we should get rid of."
Today Mr Clarke was meeting his supporters to discuss his decision, and is expected to make a major speech tomorrow.
Mr Clarke has faced calls to form a "dream ticket" with hopeful David Cameron, but this has been ruled out. The favourite is the party's home affairs spokesman David Davis.
Do you think Ken Clarke is the right man to lead the Tories? Have your say.
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Since Labour won in 1997 I have always said Ken Clarke is the only person who can lead us back into government.I hope that our party has now recognised this and that they will vote him overwhelmingly into office.
If you would be kind enough to pass on my address to Mr. Clarke I am sure it would be to his advantage.
John Bayley.
As a young member of the Tory party, I will be bitterly disappointed if Ken Clarke is not elected as our new leader. This is our final chance to have by far the best politician in the land as leader. He is a strong personality with a proven track record in senior government roles. He is the most well known Conservative and the public see him as a normal, charismatic and down to earth 'bloke' not another unknown like David Davis or David Cameron. All the other leadership contenders would make good ministers but not one is in Ken Clarke's league. Blair and Brown are afraid of him and would not relish facing him in parliament. The party needs to get its act together and recognise that Ken is the only chance of the next Prime Minister being a Conservative and it must unite behind its most natural leader. If they can do this they will win the next election.
I wanted David Davis to be the leader when Iain Duncan Smith got the job. Then, when Iain was so brutally kicked out (a blessing in disguise, perhaps?) I hoped David would get the job then, only for everyone to crown Michael Howard as leader instead. I'm afraid that I still prefer David Davis to Kenneth Clarke for the job, but only because Kenneth is soiled too much by his blind support of everything EU. We've already got two political leaders (if you can call Charles Kennedy a leader) who would prefer to lick the muck off the EU's boots than actually stand up fro Britain, the last thing we need is another one. OK, so Ken has watered down his support for the Euro and this may be more than simply a populist stunt, but until he declares his intentions regarding Britains involvement in the EU, I simply can't put my faith in the man. The question of pulling out of the EU is not an issue here (my own opinions are that maybe we should) as I will support any Conservative leader who promises to fight for Britain's standing within the EU, as opposed to The Joker and his "let's just allow the EU to run roughshod over us" policies. I don't care about his age - I don't think it matters too much. But I do want to know that he really wants the UK to be a major international player, not just some pawn in the wider EU game. If he can guarantee this (and he is more than capable of delivering it if he so desires - his abilities are not in question) I would be willing to give him his chance at the top job. As for Rifkind and Cameron, I really think they've got no chance if Ken and David fight it out properly. Malcolm is just vying for a Shadow Cabinet job and Cameron is good, but too inexperienced. Perhaps in a few years time he will be a great Party Leader, but his time is not yet here.