Clarke, Charles Rodway (1950– )

British Labour politician. After a left-wing past, Clarke helped modernize the Labour Party as chief of staff to party leader Neil Kinnock 1983–92, and has been loyal to Labour leader Tony Blair since New Labour came to power in 1997. After periods as schools and Home Office ministers he entered the cabinet after the 2001 general election as minister without portfolio and party chair. He became education secretary in 2001 after the unexpected resignation of Estelle Morris, and home secretary in 2004 after the resignation of David Blunkett. Clarke was sacked as home secretary in the May 2006 cabinet reshuffle.

As president of the National Union of Students 1975–77 Clarke gained a reputation as a radical Marxist, and spent a year in Cuba organizing the 1978 World Youth Festival. During the early 1980s he was a local councillor in Hackney, London, chairing the housing committee, and a part-time lecturer. As chief of staff to Neil Kinnock, Clarke helped write the famous speech attacking the left-wing Militant Tendency administration of Liverpool. After failing several times to win a parliamentary seat, he was eventually elected to parliament in 1997, representing Norwich South.