Cheeky chappie

Just days away from his 61st birthday, Ken Clarke is the oldest of the five Tory MPs in contention to succeed William Hague as party leader.

Robust, rotund and pro-European, Clarke built a strong reputation throughout the 1980s and 1990s as a competent, at times hard-line, minister.

Clarke's reputation as a beer-swilling, bird-watcher plays well with voters who see him as a politician in the "bloke next door" mould.

One of just a handful of MPs to serve as a minister every day of the last 18 years of Conservative government, he held several top jobs including health secretary, education secretary, home secretary, finally becoming chancellor under John Major. He introduced the internal market to the NHS and took on the teaching unions at the Department of Education and Science. As chancellor he bequeathed a strong economic legacy to Gordon Brown.

A big-hitter, the cigar-smoking, hush-puppy wearing Tory MP for Rushcliffe is often dubbed a "left-winger" by his critics. In reality, however, Clarke's time as home secretary and health secretary reveal a politician with a firm grip and strong centre-right credentials.

A populist at heart, Clarke's single biggest obstacle to securing the Tory crown are his uncompromising pro-European views.

Clarke is a staunch advocate of the single currency, and will fight hard to see Britain join the euro - but will pledge to give his MPs a free vote on the issue in a bid to bridge the chasm between the pro and anti-euro camps within the Conservative Party.

A contestant in the 1997 leadership election, Clarke angered some supporters with his unsuccessful 11th hour "dream ticket" deal with John Redwood. The bid, dubbed "desperate" by some, played badly with members of the Tory Reform Group who refused to forgive Redwood for his challenge to John Major in 1995.

Since being defeated by William Hague, Clarke has been critical of the Tories' drift to the right, and questioned the appeal of the party's "save the pound" strategy. He has used his time out of the political limelight to pursue lucrative business interests, working for British American Tobacco amongst others.

For Clarke this will be his final bite of the cherry. Success would deliver the Tory leadership to a candidate known to worry Labour's top dogs: possibly paving the way for a pensioner as prime minister. A defeat is likely to effectively end the political career of one of Britain's best-known and colourful MPs.