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William Hague Resigns as Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague Resigns as Britain’s Foreign Secretary
(about 1 month later)
LONDON — In a surprise announcement, William Hague, Britain’s foreign secretary, said late Monday that he would quit his job to take a lower-profile cabinet position as part of a wider shuffle of the government. LONDON — In a surprise announcement, William Hague, Britain’s foreign secretary, said late Monday that he would quit his job to take a lower-profile cabinet position as part of a wider shuffle of the government.
Mr. Hague, a former leader of the Conservative Party and one of its most prominent politicians, will remain a minister until the next general election in 2015 as the leader of the House of Commons, a post with responsibility for the management of legislation.Mr. Hague, a former leader of the Conservative Party and one of its most prominent politicians, will remain a minister until the next general election in 2015 as the leader of the House of Commons, a post with responsibility for the management of legislation.
He said he would then step down as a lawmaker, ending a long political career that began when he first came to prominence by making a speech as a 16-year-old schoolboy at a Conservative Party conference in 1977.He said he would then step down as a lawmaker, ending a long political career that began when he first came to prominence by making a speech as a 16-year-old schoolboy at a Conservative Party conference in 1977.
His successor as foreign secretary is expected to be announced by Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday when he finalizes his new government lineup. Commentators, including the political editor of the BBC, predicted that Philip Hammond, secretary of state for defense, would take over, although there was no official statement from Mr. Cameron’s office.His successor as foreign secretary is expected to be announced by Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday when he finalizes his new government lineup. Commentators, including the political editor of the BBC, predicted that Philip Hammond, secretary of state for defense, would take over, although there was no official statement from Mr. Cameron’s office.
Mr. Hague’s announcement surprised politicians, even though a reshuffle of important government figures had been widely anticipated. The veteran cabinet minister Kenneth Clarke also left his job in a shake-up described by one newspaper as a “purge of the middle-aged men” and in another as a cull of the “male and pale.”Mr. Hague’s announcement surprised politicians, even though a reshuffle of important government figures had been widely anticipated. The veteran cabinet minister Kenneth Clarke also left his job in a shake-up described by one newspaper as a “purge of the middle-aged men” and in another as a cull of the “male and pale.”
But the more unexpected move was that of Mr. Hague, who led the Conservative Party between 1997 and 2001, when he lost an election to the Labour Party, then led by Tony Blair.But the more unexpected move was that of Mr. Hague, who led the Conservative Party between 1997 and 2001, when he lost an election to the Labour Party, then led by Tony Blair.
Mr. Cameron described Mr. Hague as “one of the leading lights of the Conservative Party for a generation.”Mr. Cameron described Mr. Hague as “one of the leading lights of the Conservative Party for a generation.”
Mr. Hague said that he wanted to finish his career in front-line politics speaking in Parliament but that, after the general election, he would return to writing. He has written several books, including a biography of William Wilberforce, the English antislavery crusader.Mr. Hague said that he wanted to finish his career in front-line politics speaking in Parliament but that, after the general election, he would return to writing. He has written several books, including a biography of William Wilberforce, the English antislavery crusader.