Tories let Clarke off the leash
By politics.co.uk staff
Ken Clarke finally took centre-stage of the Tory campaign with a keynote speech attacking Labour’s economic policies this morning.
The shadow business secretary has been distinctly low-key in recent weeks, leading some parliamentary observers to ask whether he was being sidelined by David Cameron.
But Mr Clarke led Mr Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne in a speech on ‘Labour’s economic incompetence’ in Canary Wharf this morning.
“There’s a choice to be made, and the choice of Gordon Brown is a very expensive choice indeed,” he said.
“Yesterday’s and today’s market movements show how nervous our foreign creditors and investors are about the prospects of a Gordon Brown victory or a hung parliament.
“The argument from a British point of view is if investors do not believe the new British Government has the political will to deal with the deficit and pay down some debt they will demand much higher interest rates before they will lend us any more money. It’s a perfectly straighforward argument.”
Labour hit back at the speech today, branding it a desperate attempt to talk down the pound.
Liam Byrne, chief secretary to the Treasury, said: “Today the Tories crossed a line and showed they were willing to hurt Britain in order to help themselves.
“In an act of desperation, they walked into the City and tried to talk down the pound.
“We know they’re suffering a loss of confidence lately but trying win it back by undermining confidence in the British economy is reckless and irresponsible.”
Mr Clarke has developed a reputation as a man who speaks his mind.
Reports that he had branded ideas on recognising marriage in the tax system “social engineering” and the party’s Europe policy “a bit silly” also fuelled rumours the Tories were attempting to keep him behind the scenes.
Mr Clarke’s media profile is held up in direct contrast to his opposite number, Peter Mandelson, who makes regular appearances in the media everyday.
