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William Hague Hits the Spot
Iain Dale 4:04 PM
Well what can you say? William Hague is just THE most entertaining speaker. He has just wowed the conference with a speech which had the hall spellbound. Even at our blogging location, where we have a big screen, everyone was paying attention despite the distractions of food, drink and conference gossip. You always know when a speech is going well when people watching a big screen join in with the clapping without feeling stupid self-conscious. No question about it, Hague knows how to tickle the conference's G spot.
I feel rather sorry for John McCain, who is speaking now. Who would want to follow Hague? McCain is making a thoughtful rather than an inspiring speech. Too much about the past.
I feel rather sorry for John McCain, who is speaking now. Who would want to follow Hague? McCain is making a thoughtful rather than an inspiring speech. Too much about the past.
17 Comments:
But, Iain, Hague is indeed a deft crowd pleaser. But can we really live with his past? He worked for McKinsey. It is a grave matter.
Hague is one of the only truly smart people in the current parliament. Of course, he is seen as not telegenic therefore unelectable as a PM. How stupid but unfortunately true.
Hague is also clever, but ugly and northernly annoying ....... next!
But Bryan - didn't Dave work for Carlton TV or something? Which is worse?
I take your point, Verity. It is a very fine line indeed.
Hague is a brilliant communicator, writer, comic, exponent, critic and teacher but like nearly all those who teach, he cannot do.
It's not his image, his baldness, his northern-ness. He does not possess lesdership quality - simple as that. He was a compromise leader not a direction-setter and an innovator. He's just too nice to push people out of their complacency.
I am quietly confident that Cameron is made of sterner stuff. But Hague for all his skill, is weak.
Hague is brilliant - I mean in the sense that he is bright, witty and actually well thoughht of. He was just too 'early' as leader. I think he would be a great DPM!
I would love to see William Hague speak, I've heard how brilliant he is. For some reason, my two sons have always been big fans of his for the last five years, no influence from me. They obviously have very sound judgement.
To use the terms one finds on the other blog (Guido), the DPM usually needs to be a bigger c*** than the PM. Cameron needs someone who kicks a*** in that position and keeps the decks clear....er more David Davis territiory.
Hague would cave in to the nastiest and dirtiest opponents, which are the ones that need the real treatment. Nice thought about Hague, but weakness is not a great quality in political leadership. He would be good for attacking the opposition but not leading. In fact better at opposition than government.
AS a non tory lurker I reckon WH and Boris are your 2 best brands - nice change from the NeoLab vision and gawdaful sanctimony.
I can understand that McCain didn't set the Tory Conference alight.
Labour's guest was the former President Clinton. The Tory's get the favourite to be GOP candidate next time.
Clinton may be the past, but McCain surely cannot be the future.
I was in the hall. Hague bounded on to stage, opened with a joke and kept everyone smiling through his speech. His energy and delivery was in fact electrifying. All in all a great afternoon to be a Tory.
fairdealphil - Going by your photo ... have you considered botox?
Hague for Prime Minister!
Nothing against Cameron, but Mr. Hague should NEVER have resigned as Tory Leader. I have a feeling that one day Hague will do a John Howard by being re-elected Party Minister and smash Milliband and Darling at the polls general election after general election.
As Arnie would say "He'll Be Back!"
C4! you could well be right! i feel exactly the same way.
Hague in discussion with Tony Benn was probably the best TV (of political content) in the past few years.
Hague hit's the G spot? I'm sorry, for me it's still the sexiest appliance known to woman in the hands of a man who knows how to use it: Jimmy Page and an electric guitar. Who needs a pink bunny when you can put Led Zeppelin on the duke box and drink Guinness? Hague has never had that effect on me.
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