Charles Clarke

Charles Clarke (born 21 September 1950) is a British politician who was the Member of Parliament for Norwich South from 1997 to 2010. In the government of Tony Blair, he was Secretary of State for Education and Skills (October 2002 to December 2004). and Home Secretary (December 2004 until May 2006).

Quotes

 * One of the main purposes of university is to encourage people to think. But education for its own sake is a bit dodgy, too. The idea that you can learn about the world sitting in your study just reading books is not quite right... If we had less people studying philosophy, that would be unfortunate. I feel very less occupied by classics.
 * Interview with The Sunday Times, quoted in 'Clarke criticised over classics' (31 January 2003), bbc.co.uk and Helen Ward, 'Students confront Clarke over classics comments', Tes Magazine (13 June 2003)


 * I don't mind there being some medievalists around for ornamental purposes, but there is no reason for the State to pay for them.
 * Speech at University College, Worcester, April 2003 (Reported in the Times Educational Supplement, May 2003)


 * I am not in any way opposed to medieval studies (or for that matter Latin).
 * Education Secretary Clarke, Letter to the Guardian, May 2003


 * The fact is, we're looking for a very small number of very evil needles in a very large haystack, which is the city of London.
 * Home Secretary Charles Clarke, BBC radio, July 2005 following the London bombings