Former Chancellor Ken Clarke will stand in Rushcliffe again in the June 8 general election – despite earlier indicating he intended to stand down at the next election.
The veteran Conservative had previously said he wanted to end his long stint as an MP before the next Parliament – but this had been expected to be in time for an election in 2020.
Mr Clarke’s office told Notts TV he will put himself forward for the snap June poll, which was voted through by MPs in Parliament on Wednesday (April 19).
Mr Clarke has been Conservative MP for Rushcliffe since 1970 and is Father of the House – a title attached to the longest-serving MP in the House of Commons.
His fellow Conservative MP, Broxtowe’s Anna Soubry, tweeted: “Delighted that Ken Clarke will be standing in the forthcoming General Election. Excellent news.”
Mr Clarke, 76, won a 13,829 vote majority in the 2015 election, or a 51.4 per cent share of the vote.
Speaking to Notts TV after his win in 2015, he said he hoped to continue to play a leading role in Parliament from the back benches.
Other candidates for Rushcliffe for June have not yet been announced.
