LONDON, (AFP) -No-one was as surprised as pro-euro Kenneth Clarke when the former British finance minister became the front-runner in the race to lead the opposition Conservative Party.The beer-swilling bon viveur, whose support for the European single currency faces strong opposition within his own party, beat his two rivals in a ballot of Tory members of parliament. (Read photo caption below).
The plain-talking son of a miner admitted that even he was "surprised" that he had clinched pole position, winning 59 votes out of a possible 166. In the first round of voting last week he was well off the pace with just 36 votes.
Clarke now takes his case to the party's 300,000 members nationwide. His only remaining opponent is the eurosceptic Iain Duncan Smith, who was supported by 54 MPs on Tuesday -- just one more than erstwhile favorite Michael Portillo who has now been eliminated from the race.
Clarke and Duncan Smith, the Tory defence spokesman, now face a run-off vote of the party faithful, with the winner to be announced on September 12.
Clarke said Tuesday night: "I thought I would get in the first two, but we all seriously thought it was too close to call.
The former chancellor denied he would split the party on Europe if he became leader, saying: "I hold my own firm opinions and I respect those who stick to their own opinions. An opposition party is freer to have sensible debate about the issues of the day.
It has been his message throughout the race. From the beginning of the contest, clarke has urged fellow Tories to concentrate on rebuilding a electable party rather than its "obsession" with the euro.
When he announced his decision to run under a month ago, Clarke said: "I offer myself as the leader best able to carry the fight (against the ruling Labour Party) and to win back the lost Conservative voters.
If he is elected leader, Clarke plans to push for a referendum on entering the single currency once the rate of sterling is in line with the euro, and then put the issue behind him.
Clarke, 61, is overweight, a shabby dresser, likes a beer and a joke and has an affable, almost bumbling manner. He is famed for his tatty suede shoes, which he wears even at the most formal dinners.
In fact his human qualities are part of his appeal to voters -- he is very obviously one of them.
But his appearance belies a man who is tough and possesses a shrewd business brain. He is also from the rough-and-tumble school of politics and never shies away from a fight.
One of his colleagues from his time in government described him as "the thinking man's lager lout", while he has also been called the last slob in politics.
Away from the divisive issue of Europe, his politics are the same as Portillo's. He is a social liberal who favours a Tory party which embraces women and ethnic minorities.
As a minister for education and later for health under Margaret Thatcher he waged war on public servants. Striking teachers were dismissed as "cranks" and he accused disgruntled doctors of "feeling for their wallets".
Many economists believe it was the tough decisions he made as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1993 and 1997, increasing revenue with some unpopular taxes and tightening spending, that allowed his Labour successor Gordon Brown to look so good.
After an unsuccessful bid for the party leadership in 1997, Clarke consoled himself with a series of lucrative company directorships and commanded huge fees on the after-dinner speaking circuit.
PHOTO CAPTION:
This three picture combination of the contenders for leader of Britain's opposition Conservative Party are from left: Iain Duncan Smith, Kenneth Clarke and Michael Portillo. The race to lead Britain's Tories is gaining focus, and it's come to this: there's the hard-line military man who loves former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the cigar-smoking Europhile who rejects her, and the newly minted moderate who began his political journey by breaking with her. (AP Photo/PA)