Ken Clarke accuses party colleagues of blocking BBC Question Time appearance with false sick claims
Ex-cabinet minister Kenneth Clarke has claimed his voice was stifled in the media by party colleagues, angered by his stance on Europe,
The political veteran recalled an instance where he had been due to appear on the BBC’s flagship political discussion show Question Time only to be thwarted by party spin doctors who informed producers that he was unwell.
Clarke alleges that this was a deliberate ploy to spread false claims to media outlets that he was unwell in order to give airtime to alternative ministers with a more sceptical view on Europe.
Speaking to the Observer Clarke said of his relationship with the prime minister: “David and I didn’t fall out exactly. There was a constant friction. The worst of it was, some of his aides were briefing that I was going to be sacked all the time.
“I had a great row with them when they told the producer of Question Time that I was ill and they were able to provide a replacement. It never occurred to them that I could ring up the producer. She said, ‘I’m told you’re ill’. After that, I got even more freelance.”