Redwood: Potential kingmaker

Clarke and Redwood - An Unholy Alliance?

At a lunchtime press conference they promised to be "United in policy and principle for the next five years at least". Both men called on William Hague to join them "in forming a strong opposition which could go on to form a great government."

Mr Redwood was voted for by 37 MPs in the second round of the leadership contest. Today he declared his backing for Mr Clarke and called for his supporters to follow suit.

"I urge all who gave support to me to back the winning and unifying ticket to put Conservatives back at the centre of national political debate," he said.

His decision to support Mr Clarke may have been influenced by a guarantee of a top position in the Shadow Cabinet. Mr Clarke has confirmed that he had offered Mr Redwood the position of Shadow Chancellor in their discussions overnight.

The 'Big Hitter'

Clarke's mission statement (dur 3'40')

Mr Redwood said they had not ducked the issue of Europe but dealt with it by placing their desire for unity first. They do not see the issue as a likely to arise, but if it does so they have agreed to a no-holds-barred free vote.

It was time for a "decent, strong Opposition which could go on to form a great next government". Mr Clarke said that in the last few weeks of the leadership contest they had "allowed Mr Blair to get away all too much." Mr Redwood echoed that he had great respect for Mr Clarke and that he was "looking forward to seeing him land punches on Mr Blair."

Dealing with reaction throughout the country the former Chancellor said they had made the most sensible decision and that "people throughout the country will respect us for coming to our senses."

The other candidate in Thursday's final round of voting is William Hague. Despite being invited to join the Clarke/Redwood camp for the sake of unity, Mr Hague's campaign received a boost from Baroness Thatcher who has lent him her support.

The former Welsh Secretary hit out at Mr Hague: "My supporters fear the three-line whip on a changing fudge that they would get with William Hague."

Clarke invites William Hague to join him and end the contest

In his characteristically jovial tone, Mr Clarke said he was not worried by losing Mrs Thatcher's support: "I'm still well ahead in the House of Lords and will maintain a majority."

Mr Redwood, asked how he could unite with a man he had blamed for the loss of the General Election refuted this idea: "If you had been following my electino campaign, you would know that I blame events in 1992 for losing the election. Not just the events of the past few weeks" he said.

The decision to put Mr Redwood at the heart of the Shadow Cabinet is significant because it puts him, as Shadow Chancellor, in charge of policy about the single European currency. If anything it shows how confident he and Mr Clarke are that the key issue is to form a strong opposition against the Labour Government with a unified party.