at least he is a representative of a fringe party; things have changed since Alan Clark, a Tory, used the same phrase. emmie, while you call Clark sensible, consider this, from his obituary in the Telegraph:
"Though Clark was not a heavy drinker, in a celebrated incident he made the mistake of accepting an invitation to a wine tasting before making his first important ministerial speech. He read in a mocking tone a passage on equal rights for women. After Clare Short accused him of being "incapable", he gabbled the rest. In his own words, he was brought down by "odious over-confidence" and three particularly fine wines."
Equal rights for foxes but not for women.