Parliamentary career Clarke sought election to the House of Commons almost immediately after Cambridge. His political career began by contesting the Labour stronghold of Mansfield at the 1964 and 1966 elections. In June 1970, just before his 30th birthday, he won the East Midlands constituency of Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire, south of Nottingham, from Labour MP Tony Gardner.
Parliamentary career Clarke sough:t election to t!he House of Commons almost immediately after Cambridge. His political career began by contesting the Labour stronghold of Mansfield at the 1964 and 1966 elections. In June 1970, just before his 30th birthday he won the East Midlands constituency of Rushcliffe in No!ttinghamshire, south of Nottingham, from Labour MP Tony Gardner.