Hague: Quitting Tory leadership was best decision

William Hague was Tory leader for four years

Wednesday, 04, Oct 2006 12:00

William Hague has said that stepping down as Conservative leader was the "best thing that ever happened to me" – and insisted he has no further ambitions for the top job.

The shadow foreign secretary, who led the party between 1997 and 2001, told a fringe meeting at the Tory party conference that he could "safely rule that [option] out".

Yesterday Mr Hague was treated to a standing ovation by delegates in Bournemouth, proof of his enduring popularity in the party despite his failure to fend off another Labour landslide in the 2001 general election.

But questioned last night whether he would try again for the top job, he insisted: "I don't want to do that. I don't think I'll ever do that. I would be staggered if I ever did so. I think I can safely rule that out."

Mr Hague – who first addressed the Tory conference at the tender age of 16 – said his resignation had allowed him to discover a world outside politics.

"I did find that leaving the leadership of the party was personally the best thing that ever happened to me, and I discovered a whole new life in music [and] writing books, which I love doing at least as much as politics," he said.

Meanwhile, speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning, Mr Hague also gave his backing to "mavericks" within the party – namely Boris Johnson, who yesterday came under fire for criticising TV chef Jamie Oliver's healthy food campaign.

The Conservatives have chosen Mr Oliver's status as "national saint" as their final conference debate later today, as officials are keen to stress that Mr Johnson's views – which he has since insisted were not personal – are not reflected by the party.

On Sunday, Tory leader David Cameron praised Mr Oliver, asking: "Who has done more to improve school food, Jamie Oliver or the latest education secretary?"

But this morning Mr Hague insisted: "There is room for a maverick or an eccentric in politics and [Mr Johnson] is a maverick and he is an eccentric".

He said the Henley MP – who yesterday found himself at the centre of a media storm over his remarks – was a "very valued member of our party".

"Clearly we don't all necessarily agree with everything he says but it does not have to be a monolithic organisation," he added.