High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Kenneth Harry Clarke, PC, QC, MP (born 2 July 1940) is a British Conservative politician, currently the Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe and a Minister without Portfolio in the UK Government. He was first elected to Parliament in 1970, and appointed as a minister in Edward Heath`s Government in 1972. One of Britain`s best-known politicians, he has served in the Cabinet as Education Secretary, Health Secretary, Justice Secretary, Home Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer. Since 1997 he has been the President of the Tory Reform Group. He has contested the Conservative Party leadership three times — in 1997, 2001 and 2005 — being defeated each time. Although he is considered popular with the general public, his pro-European views conflict with the Conservative Party`s Euro-sceptic stance. Notably, he is President of the Conservative Europe Group and Vice-President of the European Movement UK.