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William Hague: 14-pint-sized politico William Hague: 14-pint-sized politico
(4 months later)
William Hague was asked about the referendum on our membership of the EU. Gary Streeter, a Tory, pointed out that the last time we had a poll on this topic Mr Hague was aged only 14 and could not vote.William Hague was asked about the referendum on our membership of the EU. Gary Streeter, a Tory, pointed out that the last time we had a poll on this topic Mr Hague was aged only 14 and could not vote.
The foreign secretary replied: "I was only 14, although I had a big influence on how my family voted even at that stage." This answer seemed to me to open a pit of horror. A 14-year-old instructing his parents how to vote!The foreign secretary replied: "I was only 14, although I had a big influence on how my family voted even at that stage." This answer seemed to me to open a pit of horror. A 14-year-old instructing his parents how to vote!
Mrs Hague: Come on, William luv, eat up tha' brawn sandwich! It'll make thee big and strong!Mrs Hague: Come on, William luv, eat up tha' brawn sandwich! It'll make thee big and strong!
William: Aye, happen as it will Mam, but tha's not tekking into account the new pigmeat regime likely to be wished upon us by them Europeans and their fancy foreign ways if we stay inside t'Common Market, as I still call it. Brawn will be a thing of t'past, and Yorkshire folk will be forced to spread their Hovis wi' pate, rillettes, chorizo and other foreign muck!"William: Aye, happen as it will Mam, but tha's not tekking into account the new pigmeat regime likely to be wished upon us by them Europeans and their fancy foreign ways if we stay inside t'Common Market, as I still call it. Brawn will be a thing of t'past, and Yorkshire folk will be forced to spread their Hovis wi' pate, rillettes, chorizo and other foreign muck!"
Mr Hague, gazing puzzled at his son: Sometimes, William lad, I wonder whether you wouldn't be happier if you stopped memorising parliamentary majorities seat by seat, and worrying your head about subsidiarity and such soft southern nonsense. 'Ave a few drinks wi' some of the lads!Mr Hague, gazing puzzled at his son: Sometimes, William lad, I wonder whether you wouldn't be happier if you stopped memorising parliamentary majorities seat by seat, and worrying your head about subsidiarity and such soft southern nonsense. 'Ave a few drinks wi' some of the lads!
William: Don't worry your head, father, I regularly drink 14 pints of ale a day, a fact which will emerge after I become Tory leader in 1997! Now I must go back to my room and rehearse for the keynote speech I plan to make to the Conservative conference in two years' time …William: Don't worry your head, father, I regularly drink 14 pints of ale a day, a fact which will emerge after I become Tory leader in 1997! Now I must go back to my room and rehearse for the keynote speech I plan to make to the Conservative conference in two years' time …
Apart from this alarming scene, MPs were anxious about Syria and David Cameron's plans to arm the rebels. Many are deeply anxious about this and are demanding a meaningful vote before it happens. Mr Hague seemed unwilling to say outright that such a vote would occur. Peter Hain pointed out that the Sunday Times had quoted "a senior Tory source" who had said: "We will avoid at all costs a vote as we don't think we can win it".Apart from this alarming scene, MPs were anxious about Syria and David Cameron's plans to arm the rebels. Many are deeply anxious about this and are demanding a meaningful vote before it happens. Mr Hague seemed unwilling to say outright that such a vote would occur. Peter Hain pointed out that the Sunday Times had quoted "a senior Tory source" who had said: "We will avoid at all costs a vote as we don't think we can win it".
"There is no Tory more senior than the prime minister," Mr Hague replied, to delighted cries of "Boris! Boris!" from Labour, whose members never miss a chance to point out that the mayor of London is the only popular Tory left in the country."There is no Tory more senior than the prime minister," Mr Hague replied, to delighted cries of "Boris! Boris!" from Labour, whose members never miss a chance to point out that the mayor of London is the only popular Tory left in the country.
"One or two might think they are [senior to the prime minister] …" Hague said, emphasising once again that there really is a clandestine leadership struggle."One or two might think they are [senior to the prime minister] …" Hague said, emphasising once again that there really is a clandestine leadership struggle.
He gave a long answer that seemed to imply that there would be a vote, but didn't quite say so. Julian Lewis, a frequently rebellious Tory, grumped that he would like to have heard the word "yes" in that answer, but had not done so. Then some Labour MPs thought Hague had muttered the magic word under his breath.He gave a long answer that seemed to imply that there would be a vote, but didn't quite say so. Julian Lewis, a frequently rebellious Tory, grumped that he would like to have heard the word "yes" in that answer, but had not done so. Then some Labour MPs thought Hague had muttered the magic word under his breath.
Gisela Stuart asked for the word "yes" be recorded in Hansard, which would in effect commit the government to holding a vote. She was unlucky. The Hansard writers record only what they hear, and clearly they didn't hear that.Gisela Stuart asked for the word "yes" be recorded in Hansard, which would in effect commit the government to holding a vote. She was unlucky. The Hansard writers record only what they hear, and clearly they didn't hear that.
Maybe it would have worked better if he had just muttered, "aye, bonny lass", with a wink.Maybe it would have worked better if he had just muttered, "aye, bonny lass", with a wink.
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