This NewsBlog has learnt that Paul Dacre, Editor of The Daily Mail, is again inclined to back Ken Clarke if the former Chancellor throws his hat into the ring (which seems increasingly likely).
The Eurosceptic Daily Mail backed the Europhile Ken Clarke last time round and Mr Dacre does not regret it. He would face a rebellion from Mail writers, however. Simon Heffer and Melanie Phillips would be likely candidates to lead that rebellion. They not only object to Mr Clarke's Old European views - they also object to his (related) poseur multilateralism in the war on terror.
It would be interesting to see who Dacre supports if(when?) KC is no longer in the contest?
Posted by: Ben O | 17 June 2005 at 11:40
No, this is completely wrong. DMGT will back Cameron. They backed KC the last two times, and got annoyed and embrarrassed. Remember, Chairman Rothermere sends his kids to Eton. They will back the Tory who married into the Astor family. Dacre will be completely comfortable with this too.
Posted by: buxtehude | 17 June 2005 at 16:23
A second thought: consider Heathcote Amory at the DM. Husband of Alice Thompson. Friend of Cameron. Although AT did a fair piece in today's Daily Telegraph. Hinted that Cameron was a wobbler. (They all seem wobbly to me)
Posted by: buxtehude | 17 June 2005 at 16:27
Does that mean I will have to give up on the Mail as well as the Conservatives? if Clarke wins I will dump both. Cameron is too young and inexperienced and I can't forgive Clarke for doing nothing to help the Party, more concerned with lining his own pockets. If he had been willing to bend a bit in Europe he would have won in 1997
Carol
Posted by: carol | 17 June 2005 at 18:16
You think? I don't think anyone could have won in '97 with a Conservative by their name.
Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge | 17 June 2005 at 23:15
I stand by my posting, Buxtehude. Simon Heffer bigs up the idea of a Clarke-Davis race in today's Mail and a news story quotes David Curry's support for Clarke. Curry believes that Ken - former Chancellor etc - is the ideal candidate to attack what will likely be a PM Brown and his economic record.
Posted by: Editor | 18 June 2005 at 17:08