Ken Clarke told the World At One this afternoon that he would be prepared to back a no confidence vote if the UK was heading for No Deal, even if it was proposed by Labour. The former Chancellor says he could not countenance No Deal because he is pro-business, so has decided he would vote in a way that could usher in Britain’s first Marxist government. Impeccable logic…

“It might trigger an election, it might trigger a change in Government without an election… I am not going to vote in favour of a Government that says it is going to pursue policies that are totally incompatible with everything the Conservative Party has stood for.”

Labour are already pencilling in a possible no confidence vote for Thursday 25th July, one day after the new PM takes office. Now Chris Davies has been recalled by his constituents the Conservatives command a Commons majority of four with DUP help. After the Brecon and Radnoshire by-election this is likely to fall to just three…

This was Ken Clarke speaking about the burka on the BBC in 2013. He criticised it as a “peculiar costume” and a “kind of bag“, said it should not be worn while giving evidence in court, but opposed a ban in public.

 “I do think it’s a most peculiar costume for people to adopt in the 21st century, but that’s not to me for decide, when they’re not engaged in some serious issue such as giving evidence. That’s the bit that I think it’s almost impossible to have a proper trial if one of the persons is in a kind of bag.”

Clarke’s language did not cause any reaction from Tory MPs at the time. Do Anna Soubry and Heidi Allen think their Remainer hero should apologise calling the burka a “bag”? Why didn’t the then Home Secretary Theresa May say Clarke should apologise? Almost as if the whole Boris row is about Brexit and the Tory leadership…

UPDATE: A few weeks back Clarke slapped down Sayeeda Warsi and said she was being “sensitive” about Tory Islamophobia. Where was the Remainer outrage then?

.@DesmondSwayne MP just fell asleep in the House of Commons. pic.twitter.com/msqIBUbZCJ

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) 16 January 2018

Desmond Swayne appears to nod off during Ken Clarke’s droning remainer speech in the Commons. Definitely deliberate from Dessy, he must have known he was in shot…

Ken Clarke tells Niall Paterson:

“I’m pessimistic about staying in the European Union. Parliament voted by an enormous majority to be bound by this referendum. I think myself it’s inevitable we are going to leave the European Union.”

A reality check for Tony Blair and ultra Remainers indulging his fantasies…

Ken Clarke IS standing again, despite most news outlets reporting he was to retire. His office say: “He’s putting himself forward to be the Conservative candidate for Rushcliffe in June.”

Delighted that Ken Clarke will be standing in the forthcoming General Election. Excellent news

— Anna Soubry MP (@Anna_Soubry) April 19, 2017

At last some good news for the ‘saboteurs’…