Ken Clarke, a notable One Nationer and leadership contender who served as Health Secretary under Margaret Thatcher, Chancellor of the Exchequer under John Major and Lord Chancellor under David Cameron, has represented the safe seat of Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire since 1970. He's usually had a majority over 10%, with the sole exception of 1997, when he was 'only' 5000 votes ahead of his Labour opponent. Of course, this was fairly common in Blair's landslide, where many safe Tory seats had drastically reduced majorities. But let's presume that a stronger candidate (perhaps one of the Labourites defeated in 1992) combined with a weaker local campaign leads to Clarke's defeat.
Aside from the psychological obvious - losing the Chancellor would sting the activists - what effect would Clarke's defeat have on the Tory party, and the country as a whole? Would anyone else take up the banner of One Nation in the way Clarke did? Does his absence lead to an alternate victor in the eventual leadership contest?
And of course, would Ken join the Formula One commentary alá Michael Portillo, or would he seek a job in Brussels?