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Tories can indulge Boris - Hague Tories can indulge Boris - Hague
(30 minutes later)
There should be room in politics for the "odd eccentric" like Boris Johnson, shadow foreign secretary William Hague has told the BBC.There should be room in politics for the "odd eccentric" like Boris Johnson, shadow foreign secretary William Hague has told the BBC.
Mr Johnson, a Tory education spokesman, has faced fresh controversy after criticising the Jamie Oliver-inspired healthy school lunches campaign.Mr Johnson, a Tory education spokesman, has faced fresh controversy after criticising the Jamie Oliver-inspired healthy school lunches campaign.
He said it had gone too far and backed those "pushing pies through railings".He said it had gone too far and backed those "pushing pies through railings".
Mr Hague said he did not always agree with Mr Johnson - but insisted the Tories "can indulge the odd maverick".Mr Hague said he did not always agree with Mr Johnson - but insisted the Tories "can indulge the odd maverick".
Under seige Under siege
At a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference the Henley MP said the pressure on children to eat healthy food was "too much" and he asked why mothers shouldn't "push pies through the railings".At a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference the Henley MP said the pressure on children to eat healthy food was "too much" and he asked why mothers shouldn't "push pies through the railings".
After the comments were published on the BBC News website he was besieged by journalists at the conference in Bournemouth.After the comments were published on the BBC News website he was besieged by journalists at the conference in Bournemouth.
The Henley MP initially took refuge in the party's conference press office, emerging after three quarters of an hour to be mobbed by reporters and photographers.The Henley MP initially took refuge in the party's conference press office, emerging after three quarters of an hour to be mobbed by reporters and photographers.
Let's allow the odd eccentric to be in politics William HagueLet's allow the odd eccentric to be in politics William Hague
As he was pursued from the conference centre by a media scrum, one reporter shouted: "Thanks, Boris you have given us the only story of the conference."As he was pursued from the conference centre by a media scrum, one reporter shouted: "Thanks, Boris you have given us the only story of the conference."
"You're welcome - but what is the story?" replied Mr Johnson."You're welcome - but what is the story?" replied Mr Johnson.
He claimed he had been misquoted, telling reporters Mr Oliver was a "national saint".He claimed he had been misquoted, telling reporters Mr Oliver was a "national saint".
'Valued colleague''Valued colleague'
On Wednesday morning, Mr Hague laughed off the comments, telling BBC Breakfast: "Boris is Boris".On Wednesday morning, Mr Hague laughed off the comments, telling BBC Breakfast: "Boris is Boris".
"There is room for a maverick or an eccentric in politics and he is a maverick and he is an eccentric," he said."There is room for a maverick or an eccentric in politics and he is a maverick and he is an eccentric," he said.
"But he does a very good job as well on higher education and let's allow the odd eccentric to be in politics, let's not drive them all out of politics.""But he does a very good job as well on higher education and let's allow the odd eccentric to be in politics, let's not drive them all out of politics."
Asked if Mr Johnson was really fit for the highest office, Mr Hague said the highest office was prime minister, and David Cameron was the Tory candidate for that post.Asked if Mr Johnson was really fit for the highest office, Mr Hague said the highest office was prime minister, and David Cameron was the Tory candidate for that post.
"Let's not promote him that much," said Mr Hague. "But no, Boris is a very valued member of our party."Let's not promote him that much," said Mr Hague. "But no, Boris is 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.""Clearly we don't all necessarily agree with everything he says but it does not have to be a monolithic organisation."
On Sunday, Tory leader David Cameron heaped praise on Mr Oliver's crusade to make school dinners more nutritious.On Sunday, Tory leader David Cameron heaped praise on Mr Oliver's crusade to make school dinners more nutritious.