Tory leaders make pact to `get Clarke'

THE TORY high command decided yesterday to mount a concerted attack on the former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke to destroy his campaign against William Hague over Britain's entry to the single currency.

The decision to target Mr Clarke was taken at the Tory Party Central Office in Smith Square with Mr Hague's full approval. Those who were party to the "get Ken" pact included Sir Norman Fowler, who acted as his party leadership campaign manager.

Others who were at the private meeting at Tory party headquarters included Peter Lilley, the deputy leader, Lord Parkinson, the outgoing party chairman, Michael Ancram, his successor, and shadow Chancellor Francis Maude.

Mr Clarke enraged the Tory leadership by dismissing the party ballot called by Mr Hague on the euro in a statement on Wednesday. According to one highly-placed source, they decided that "enough is enough".

"They are not going to take this any more. It was not a meeting of right- wing idealogues. It was a broad spectrum of the party," said a leadership source.

Lord Parkinson, a former friend of Mr Clarke, fired the first salvo at the launch of the Tory party conference agenda, attacking the former Chancellor for being "arrogant" in dismissing the views of the party in the referendum, which is expected to deliver overwhelming support for Mr Hague's policy of ruling out entry to the euro for at least eight years.

The attack was stepped up last night by Lord Lamont, Mr Clarke's predecessor as Chancellor. Lord Lamont, an outspoken Eurosceptic, was authorised by the party leadership to make his own attack on Mr Clarke, Michael Heseltine, and other pro-Europeans who discount the ballot.

"They have nothing but contempt for Conservative Party members. No matter that more than 150,000 people will vote in this ballot, their opinions are to be an irrelevance. What sort of attitude is this on the most important issue of our time?"

The attacks were reinforced by Michael Howard, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, and the former Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind. Mr Howard said: "Those who believe our members shouldn't have a say are rooted in the past."

The results of the ballot are due to be announced on the eve of the Tory conference and leaders are determined to use it to try to end the running sore over Europe in the party.

Lord Parkinson said anyone speaking against Mr Hague's policy after the ballot would be speaking for themselves, and not the party - with the clear signal that associations should select candidates who back the leadership line.

The conference is expected to show its overwhelming backing for Mr Hague's Eurosceptic policy on the single currency. Mr Clarke and Mr Heseltine are preparing an attack at a series of fringe meetings during the Bournemouth conference.

By portraying Mr Clarke and Mr Heseltine as "yesterday's men," Mr Hague and his supporters are hoping they can stop Europe sabotaging the Tory election strategy.