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Ken Clarke
Ken Clarke is an engaging and lively conference and after dinner speaker.
In the Beginning
He first entered the House of Commons in the 1970 General Election as the Conservative MP for Rushcliffe.
After a succession of appointments in and out of government, Ken Clarke was made Minister for Health in March 1982. In 1985 Ken was promoted to the Cabinet to take up the role of Paymaster General and then Minister for Employment.
Following the successful Conservative campaign in the 1987 General Election, Ken was appointed Minister for Trade and Industry. Ken started to rise up the politic ranks initially as Secretary of State for Health from 1988 to 1990 and then as Secretary of State for Education and Science until April 1992.
In 1992 Ken Clarke became the Secretary of State for the Home Office. He held this job for just over a year until May 1993 when he became Chancellor of the Exchequer. He inherited this post after the events of Black Wednesday, the resignation of Norman Lamont and the decision to leave the ERM. During his time in charge of the Treasury, Ken oversaw interest rates, inflation and unemployment fall. Much of the credit for this was given to Ken Clarke and Bank of England governor, Eddie George and as such Ken's reputation and standing was made during this period.
In May 1997, the Conservatives were defeated in the General Election by New Labour under Tony Blair. Ken successfully held his seat and returned to the House of Commons in Opposition. Ken took up various roles in the business world, including being Deputy Chairman of British American Tobacco Plc and non-executive Chairman of Alliance Unichem Plc.
Life Outside Politics
Ken Clarke has a passion for the finer things in life and has presented programmes on BBC radio about Jazz.
