The younger pretender

Hague was born in 1961 in North Yorkshire, a traditional Labour stronghold. His parents owned a soft drinks firm, and were rich but not millionaires8217;. Hague, who has three older sisters, went to the local government school, where at the age of 15, his politics teacher recalls, he could recite the names of all sitting MPs, with their constituencies and a close estimate of their majorities.

At 16, Hague made his political debut at the Conservative Party conference, making a speech demanding the rolling back of the State. Margaret Thatcher, already party leader, applauded him warmly. Hague8217;s route into the Conservative Party was, as with other leaders before him, through the Oxford University Union. He who took a first class degree in politics, philosophy and economics, was Union President, and supported causes that would embarrass him today.

Among them, proportional representation and closer links with Europe. Hague entered Parliament at the age of 27, winning a by-election in Richmond in north England.

Hague masterminded John Major8217;s leadership election two years ago against his leadership rival John Redwood and now a member of his front bench team. He was rewarded with his first Cabinet job as Secretary of State for Wales, the job Redwood quit to challenge Major to the leadership election. Hague took to Wales with a determination. He learnt the Welsh language from a senior civil servant, Ffion Jenkins to whom he is now engaged.

Hague, albeit at the last minute, was anointed the heir to the Thatcherite legacy. When the arch Euro-sceptic and right-wing candidate, Redwood, went over to the former Chancellor and pro-European, Kenneth Clark8217;s camp before the last round of the voting, Thatcher jumped off the fence and announced her support for the young and clear sighted8217; Hague. Despite Hague8217;s first speech as leader in which he promised to heal and unite the divided party, the direction the Conservatives appear to have taken in their first days under a new leader is rightward.

His early front bench appointments also confirm this. Peter Lilley as shadow Chancellor, Michael Howard as shadow Foreign Secretary, were no surprise. And Redwood has also accepted a place in a team that he has little ideological disagreement with. The only Clark supporter named so far is Stephen Dorrell, as education and employment shadow, but even he had begun to make Euro-sceptic noises before the general election. The developments have been dubbed the Thatcherite Restoration8217; and the return of the Old Regime8217; even by the right wing press.

It is the appointment of Cecil Parkinson as party chairman which is seen as the step backwards. Parkinson, who quit government 14 years ago after it was discovered that his secretary was pregnant by him, was Thatcher8217;s right hand man.

Hague says that Parkinson will combine the youth of the new leadership with the experience of the old party and 8220;bring great heart to the Conservative Party across the country8221;.

Even those who wish Hague well, are sceptical of these early moves. He has a huge task over the next five years to bring a party divided on fundamental issues together. He also has to do this in a climate where, after 18 years, the Labour Party is setting the terms of debate.