Clarke, cure or poison?

If people say something for long enough it starts to become accepted truth – for example that bringing back Ken Clarke is a good thing for the Tories.

Rumours of a return have been rife for some time, but over the last fortnight there have also been shed loads of column inches on a possible position for the Rushcliffe MP in a New Year Conservative reshuffle.

A survey from ConservativeHome has now shown support for the move among grass roots Tories.

The problem is that calls for the return are beginning to take on a life of their own.

Now that debate seems to have turned in favour of Clarke, there has been less and less mention of the division that may follow in his wake.

People should note that the poll showed a far higher margin of support for a return for David Davis, 72% for and 22% against, than for Clarke, 50% for and 41% against.

For many in the party Clarke is simply unacceptable because of his views on Europe.

He is plainly at odds with Cameron’s current thinking on the EU and is not the sort of man to change his tune.

That would prove a headache for Cameron and would force the European issue back onto the agenda – so would he be a saviour for the Tories or a gift for Labour?