Clarke will not challenge Brown

Updated 10.38 Sat May 05 2007

Keywords: Gordon Brown, Charles Clarke, Labour

Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke will not challenge Gordon Brown for Labour's top spot, he said.

Mr Clarke said, despite anticipating enough support to secure his nomination to run for leader, there was "no appetite for that kind of contest" in the Labour Party.

"There isn't an appetite for that kind of contest in the party at the moment" - Charles Clarke

He told the Times newspaper: "I'm not going to run in the leadership election. I was ready to run. I was considering running. I think I would have had the support to be nominated and be able to run.

"There's the issue of the possibility of a division, possibly bitter division, around personalities and so on which would be very very damaging.

"There isn't an appetite for that kind of contest in the party at the moment."

With Gordon Brown widely expected to take over as Prime Minister from Tony Blair, Mr Clarke said he would still like to serve as a member of his cabinet.