2010 election candidates:
Kenneth Clarke(Conservative) born 1940, Nottingham. Educated at Nottingham High School and Cambridge University, where he was a contemporary of Michael Howard, Norman Lamont and Leon Brittain. Barrister. Contested Mansfield 1964, 1966. First elected as MP for Rushcliffe in 1970. Government whip 1972-1974, industry spokesman 1976-1979. Junior transport minister 1979-1982, Minister of State for health 1982-1985, paymaster general 1985-1987, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1987-1988, Health Secretary 1988-1990, Education Secretary 1990-1992, Home Secretary 1992-1993, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1993-1997, Shadow Secretary of State for Business & Enterprise since 2009. Clarke is regarded as being on the left of the Conservative party, largely due to his outspoken support for the European Union which extended to sharing a stage with Tony Blair in support of the single currency. He contested the party leadership three times and each time opinion polls showed him to be the choice of the public, presumably due to his high profile public image of bonhomie, cigars, jazz and suede shoes. In 1997 he was the front runner, but lost to William Hague in the final round after striking a pact with John Redwood. In 2001 he was easily defeated by Iain Duncan Smith in the first Conservative leadership election to be decided by normal party members. In 2005 he ran, but was eliminated in an early round. Between 1997 and 2009 he declined to serve on the Conservative front bench, saying the only job he was interested in was leader, but in 2009 agreed to return as Business secretary in light of the economic crisis (more information at They work for you)
Andrew Clayworth (Labour) Biomedical scientist.
Karrar Khan (Liberal Democrat) Rushcliffe councillor. Contested Rushcliffe 2005.
Richard Mallender (Green) Rushcliffe councillor since 2007, former Brighton councillor. Contested East Midlands 2009 European election.
Matthew Faithfull (UKIP) Contested Rushcliffe 2005.