Hague sensationally quits as Foreign Secretary in brutal Cabinet bloodbath

William Hague has sensationally quit as Foreign Secretary as David Cameron culled a string of male ministers in a brutal reshuffle.

To the shock of Westminster, Mr Hague - one of the biggest beasts in the Tory Party - has been demoted to Commons leader.

He was one of almost a dozen of “male and pale” ministers forced by the PM to make way for women ministers.

The bloodbath also saw the exit of veteran Ken Clarke, Attorney General Dominic Grieve and Welsh Secretary David Jones.

William Hague has sensationally quit as Foreign Secretary as David Cameron culled a string of male ministers in a brutal reshuffle.

To the shock of Westminster, Mr Hague - one of the biggest beasts in the Tory Party - has been demoted to Commons leader.

He was one of almost a dozen of “male and pale” ministers forced by the PM to make way for women ministers.

The bloodbath also saw the exit of veteran Ken Clarke, Attorney General Dominic Grieve and Welsh Secretary David Jones. 

Downing Street said it would announce their replacements tomorrow but ruled out George Osborne moving to the Foreign Office.

Mr Hague, who announced he is standing down as an MP at the next election, said he would take on a campaign role in addition to Commons leader.

He said: “In government there is a balance to strike between experience on the one hand and the need for renewal on the other, and I informed the Prime Minister last summer that I would not be a candidate at the next General Election.

“Accordingly I am stepping aside as Foreign Secretary, in order to focus all my efforts on supporting the Government in Parliament and gaining a Conservative victory in the General Election.”

He added: “I am delighted to be able to serve as Leader of the House of Commons, and to be able to campaign for Conservative candidates across the country. I want to finish in frontline politics as I began – speaking in Parliament and campaigning among the voters.

 

“After the General Election I will return to my writing, while still giving very active support to the Conservative Party and campaigning on international causes I believe in.”

Mr Cameron said: “William Hague has been one of the leading lights of the Conservative Party for a generation, leading the party and serving in two cabinets. Not only has he been a first class Foreign Secretary – he has also been a close confidante, a wise counsellor and a great friend.

“He will remain as First Secretary of State and my de facto political deputy in the run up to the election – and it is great to know that he will be a core part of the team working to ensure an outright Conservative victory at the next election.”

William Hague took to Twitter tonight to confirm the news and said that "renewal in politics is good".

He wrote: "Tonight I am standing down as Foreign Secretary after 4 years to serve as Leader of the House of Commons

"I will not stand as an MP in the May 2015 General Election, after 26 years as an MP

"Role as Leader of the House means I will finish in politics as I began – speaking in Parliament and campaigning among the voters

"From May 2015, after such a long period in politics I want to embark on many other things I have always wanted to do

"Renewal in politics is good, and holding office is not an end in itself. After 26 years as an MP time will be right for me to move on

"I’m proud we now have a restored @foreignoffice, revived alliances, a new course in Europe, and stronger UK leadership on #humanrights

"I will take forward the UK campaign to end sexual violence in conflict as the PM’s Special Representative."