Iain will lead Tories ...no, Ken's a winner

ALL around us is evidence of increasing social chaos. The fundamentals of right and wrong cannot be subject to fashion. I firmly believe that most people, in the depths of their soul, hanker to live in an ordered society based on accepted norms of behaviour, personal responsibility and mutual respect.

Iain Duncan Smith, in my view, bases his political philosophy on that premise and, what is more, he has absolute faith in Britain as an independent nation state.

His manner is honest and straightforward and he is not given to political spin or the flood of trivial popularism which seems to guide much of our media and "public opinion".

He has a strong belief in the sanctity of life as his voting record shows.

His stand on the Euro is shared by the vast majority of the party he aspires to lead, not because it's popular in the country but simply because it is right and everyone knows it.

His parliamentary record, both as shadow spokesman on social services and on defence, is first class.

He has the rare ability to shun irrelevant waffle, to identify the important problems and produce important solutions.

Age, family background and hairstyle are all trivial matters which ought not to influence serious consideration of the leadership contestants.

I have much respect for Kenneth Clarke's ministerial experience and competent manner, but these alone are not enough to lead the party back to electoral success.

His views on big government, the role of the European Union and particularly the Euro single currency permeate a whole range of national issues.

To suggest that the next General Election could be won in the face of such monumental policy hazards is pie in the sky.

Iain Duncan Smith is not encumbered with this baggage.

His beliefs are rooted in freedom, tolerance, respect for family and love of country, and are shared by the overwhelming majority of the party.

With his leadership there will be no problem to be exploited by other parties over the Euro and he will be free to deliver real improvements to health, social services, education and public safety, all of which are in desperate need of fundamental review.

What matters is the quality of these services, their equal availability to all and the dedication of those who deliver them.

Iain Duncan Smith knows what actions are needed to regain our national self-respect not just in the party but throughout our society.

He has the ability and determination to see them through.

He has the right fundamental qualities for national leadership and that is why I commend him to all Conservatives.

Dorothy Dawson, chairman of the York Conservative Supper Club, has been a member of the Conservative Party for 22 years. She supports Ken Clarke

I have met Ken Clarke. He visited York and I went on a walkabout with him. He came into a shoe shop, sat down and started talking to people. He has enormous personality, he has character, and he is very good with people. You don't forget meeting him.

He looks you right in the eye and when you introduce him to people it seems as if he is really pleased to meet them. You don't want to elect a leader who is unapproachable, you want someone who you can talk to, someone who can sort out your problems. That is what you elect a leader for. That's why I'm voting for Ken Clarke.

I think if anything his image is an advantage. He is an ordinary bloke who is not too bothered about his clothes. People are sick of these leaders that are immaculately turned out. They look like clones.

They say Iain Duncan Smith looks like another toffee-nosed Tory. I heard him described as William Hague without the jokes and it could be true.

He sounds like a typical Conservative and we have got to get away from that image.

We aren't what people think we are; we are shop assistants, street cleaners, window cleaners and everything else, and we have got to show that through our leader.

People recognise that Ken Clarke is a Tory: but he is a character. Someone with the strength of character to not bother about their appearance - that is attractive.

On top of that, Ken Clarke has experience - experience of all the big ministerial jobs. That's important. We are looking for somebody who can win us the next election. Not just another leader, but somebody who can give us a chance. Iain Duncan Smith isn't a well-known name. But you ask people about Ken Clarke and everybody knows him.

On Europe, I feel that at the last election, we took a stance that was a bit anti-European and it didn't pay off. William (Hague) didn't get in.

Obviously, if we're going to take note of what people think, then we are really going to have to change, have to re-think, not only our image but a few other things as well.

Iain Duncan Smith has many of the same views as William.

But there are a few of us who aren't anti-Europe. I holiday in Europe. I go to Spain every year, at least twice. The people there aren't that different from us.

I'm still very pro-Britain, and proud of my country. But we have got to be reasonable. We are no longer the power that we were. We're not living in the Victorian age now.

It is time we recognised our neighbours. Ken Clarke is going to allow a vote on Europe, yes.

But I think we can trust him to fight our corner. He has the experience and he will know how to handle it.

So he is the man I will be voting for.

Updated: 10:09 Thursday, August 23, 2001