Kenneth Clarke hints at a return

Kenneth Clarke has paved the way for a political comeback by announcing he would be happy to serve in a future Conservative government.

The former Chancellor - one of Westminster's 'big beasts' - said he would relish a return to the Cabinet under David Cameron.

The news that the 66-year-old political heavyweight is prepared to return to the front benches is a huge boost for the Tory leader.

Mr Clarke has a wealth of experience in Government and would be certain to land painful blows on his opponents. He has refused to serve on the front line in the Commons since the party was swept from power a decade ago.

But yesterday he revealed he would be delighted to accept a Government post if Mr Cameron topples Labour at the next election. "If it was attractive, I'd take it," he said.

Mr Clarke was speaking as he unveiled the report of a Tory policy panel on cleaning up government, in which he called for an end to Tony Blair's 'sofa style' government.

He urged Mr Cameron to sign up to a ministerial code that would end the "presidential, off the cuff, accident-prone" methods favoured by the Prime Minister.