This isn't a personal point against Ken Clarke, I am a friend of Ken's, I think he's a great guy, but when we're talking about the leadership of the party I think it's important that you have a leader who speaks for the majority of the party on a major issue such as Europe and the Euro.
Having done this job for so long, I'm very fortunate that I've got to know a lot of the players quite well, certainly the British players like Colin Montgomerie who is a good friend, and Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood I'm quite close to.
Clarke reiterated this sentiment when I had the opportunity to speak with him earlier this week.
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Watching the match-saving partnership between Michael Clarke and Marcus North on Monday, I couldn't help but draw parallels between England toiling unsuccessfully and Australia missing out on an expected victory at Cardiff.
The Ryder Cup is won by two or three players having stellar weeks, winning four out of five points, and I would not rule out Darren Clarke being the absolute star of the event.
"I had celebrated at first, but then I got up off the pile, " Clarke said.
Of course, I am one of those people who has been critical of Clarke.
FORBES: Richard Clarke Responds to Administration Cybersecurity Proposals
"I want to work on some areas of my game and improve my batting and I just think it's a great opportunity for me, " Clarke told BBC Sport.
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The contest has got increasingly bitter over the last few weeks with a war of words between Ken Clarke and Iain Duncan Smith over subjects like race and Europe, of course, I'll be speaking to Iain Duncan Smith in just a few moments but first Steve Norris.
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"I can believe it because of the guy sitting beside me, " said Clarke.
"Yes, I do, " Mr. Loughner responded, as his lawyer, Judy Clarke, sat near him, at times putting her hand on his back.
"I don't believe England players will be involved next year, " said Clarke.
"I don't see the emerging economies talking themselves into a recession, " says Mr Clarke.
"Rory has a special talent and I had no reservations about seeking an invitation for him to play, " said Ryder Cup Clarke.
Asked whether he had changed his mind since then, Mr Clarke said he had not, although some people had tried to "carefully select little bits of what I said" to suggest a U-turn.
"If he continues to play the way he played today and shows that patience and that discipline I have no doubt at all that he will score plenty of hundreds for Australia, " Clarke said.
"After sitting down and thinking about this, I'm thinking 'Hey, I've got an untapped reserve over here, and it's the public, '" Clarke said.
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