An unequal contest

Frederick James

So Hague was rubbish because he won too easily? Have I got that right?

Jeez.

Roller

What is so wrong about coming across as the sensible party that is fit to lead Britain out of the economic mire left behind by 13 years of Labour Government? We should be careful not to come across as bashful and seeing to humiliate the Government at every opportunity.

Hague knows this, as a sensible, seasoned politician. Harman, was as ever, woeful - she can not handle more than two policies at once. By just asking challenging questions that demonstrate Labour's weaknesses, Hague and Cameron are doing there jobs.

The gravitas Hague is renowned for and still retains will be on show if he becomes Foreign Secretary. Britain needs to restore its place on the global stage and Hague is the man for the job

The Bellman

Here's another unequal contest: Lloyd Evans v Matthew Parris. Or Frank Johnson. Or Simon Hoggart. Or Ann Treneman. Hell, even Kay Burley, the thoughtless man's overcooked crumpet. I was going to say Johann Hari, but Lloyd has a slight edge. And if *that* isn't daming with faint praise...

Ed P

Is she unwell? The picture does her no favours.

Holly ......

An unequal contest?
Woollas v Hesletine.
That is how it is done!

Vulture

I think in our hearts we all know that Hague would make a better Tory leader, and a better PM than the present incumbent - but sadly he blew it too early, when even a combination of Cicero, Churchill and Hague's hero Pitt the Younger would not have got the Tories back into power.

We're all older and wiser now - but alas the moving finger has writ and moved on.

Having said that, even Dave would have got the better of Hattie Hatpin. Her performance would have disgraced the IV Form debating society at St Pauls when she was rubbing knees there with George Osborne.

Sacre Bleu

I thought Hattie read her replies to the planted questions in an almost word perfect manner. Time for Berc to stop planted questions and written answers or just wrap the whole thing up. Clearly those attending today were in a demob happy mood knowing that an election is on its way so "let's party" On a serious point, poor Hattie is just a waste of space, an affluent Liebour Toff totally out of her depth.

AndyinBrum

To be fair V, my 18 month old could have beaten Harman, and his vocab consists of blowing raspberries

Tiberius

The thing is, Vulture, William Hague knows himself that he would not make a better leader.

David Ossitt

Ed P

"Is she unwell?"

Oh I do sincerely hope so; she only has to open her mouth, to speak her brand of Marxist mumbo jumbo to make the rest of us feel nauseous.

Let her be as sick, as we are sick to the back teeth of her incompetent government.

strapworld

I thought William Hague was excellent. He didn't have to bang the drum, he just showed her who was on top of their brief!!

On another point. Labour must be very very concerned. I have just received an email from a close friend.

"What do you make of this, **** our son has just come home from school (12 years old 13 next month) His Teacher has told the class you must get your parents to vote LABOUR! and then told them how good labour is for the country".!!!!

bernerlap

"Hague for prime minister? According to one of the wilder Tory theories, a hung parliament could force a humiliated Cameron from office and put the trusted Hague into Number 10 at the head of a coalition government. "
Presumably originating from Chez Evans.
Lloyd I thought you had plumbed the depths with last week's epistle but this week you have out done yourself.
I am beginning to think that Lloyd Evans does not exist, and that he is pseudonym chosen by the combined might Spectator journalism to wind Coffee Housers up.
No sentient being could produce this rubbish and actually believe it.
However, if you regard it as a wind up it is moderately amusing in a studenty sort of way.

brooks

Another rather disappointing piece Mr Evans.

Tiberius

I guess, Strapworld, the teacher doesn't want to face the prospect of having to up the game once Gove becomes Education Sec.

David Ossitt

strapworld

“What do you make of this, **** our son has just come home from school (12 years old 13 next month) His Teacher has told the class you must get your parents to vote LABOUR! and then told them how good labour is for the country".!!!!”

If this is a true story; and I am not for a moment suggesting that it is not, then the parent of that child must complain with all vigour.

It is absolutely wrong for a teacher to show any political bias to children of that age, to tell them that their parents must vote labour is criminal, he should and must be fired.

Philip Walker

Vulture, I know Harriet's not the sharpest tool in the box, but she'd have to be a really slow developer to have rubbed knees with George, what with her being 21 years his senior. And she was at the girls' school, whereas George, as far as we know, was at the boys'. Unless there's something *else* one of them isn't telling us.

Super Blue

Vulture is right that GO and the Countess of Longford's niece (Hapless Hattie) both attended St. Paul's. However, I recall reading that the boys' and girls' schools are separate and, furthermore, Hapless is 15-20 years older.

Fergus Pickering

Well, strapworld, you can shop the teacher. He'll get into all sorts of trouble. Or you could let it go. Teachers supporting Labour (most of them do) will cut no ice with pupils. Interestingly it is the older teachers who tend to be more lefty. The younger ones, having grown up with Blair and Brown, are more on the right. Philip Larkin and his friend Colin Gunner espoused Franco's cause during the Spanish Civil War purely to bait the teachers (lefties then, lefties now). 'Have you seen, sir, where our lot are this morning?'

DavidDP

He won, so he was rubbish?

Come on, Spectator, how much longer to we have to put up with this poor excuse for a writer?

Alexis

Hague ¨had no trouble dominating¨, so he´s no good? I don´t quite get the point of this article

Edward Sutherland

Lloyd Evans, you really don't get it. Hague knows he's got bigger fish to fry. OK, he could have eviscerated Hapless Hattie to such an extent that even the BBC would have to show it on prime time. And how would that play with the electorate? Hattie may be the equality tsar(rina) but it would not come over well to see a man no less completely humiliating her. Hague did what was required and no more. I fear you have real trouble with PMQs.

john skinner

Ferus Pickering
Most teachers do NOT support Labour, especially in the women-dominated Primary Schools. As for the NAHT (head teachers), most of them were as right wing as me. And I'm almost a Nazi.
Re Lloyd Evans: why is he writing for the Spectator?
Whose son/nephew/rent-boy is he?

PAUL GILBOY

I agree that Hague dominated PMQ because HH clearly does not understand the arguments but Hague was magisterial today. I don’t think anyone would have appreciated Hague slaughtering a woman who was clearly out of her depth.

I was only a pity that Gordon Brown was not there but Mc cavity obviously knew what was coming and decided to clear off! Yet again.

Lastly I think people need to stop speculating about the future leadership of the Conservative party, as David Cameron is still a young man and, will at least serve through two successful terms as prime minister, Hague had his chance and its gone now, its best if he serves his country as part of a team, that so many people are putting their hope upon.

hmmm

Lloyd Evans: the weakest link in the Spectator lineup, by a long way.

Even Michael White at the Grauniad usually does a more honest job - and that isn't saying much!

I'm not sure whether this entire weekly column is a massive practical joke on the readers or not. The only way the nonsense Mr Evans spews would be forgivable is if it is, in fact, satire.

JONNY

No Frederic James,
Hague is rubbish (as Leader or PM) because he bombed out spectacularly in 2001.

TrevorsDen

I am sure hague will be delighted if harriet becomes labour leader.

TGF UKIP

Now while I can usually quite sympathize with anti Welsh abuse, I think some of you are being jolly rotten to Mr Evans. For a start it's a very welcome change to see a light touch and a sense of humour from any CH hack and definitely not to be discouraged.

I would also make the point that this had to be written more or less contemporaneously without the benefit of hour's or day's polishing. So cut the guy some slack and don't be such curmudgeons.

Meanwhile, Tiberius at 4.37 pm, I see you've got those pom poms out again. Bequeathed to you by your soulmate, the departed and much unlamented editor, were they?

Ivy Eileen

I never thought I would be writing this - but I actually felt sorry for Hattie today. Hague was clearly on top of what was required; no triumphalism, statesmanlike and getting the point across without acrimony.

She, on t'other hand, appeared to have been given a hospital pass by Brown, who preferred Belfast to the Commons and facing an assault on the staggering figure of 0.1% (subject to review, tolerance for statistical error, wind blowing in the wrong direction etc etc).

No time to bone up and be briefed.

Chuck Unsworth

@ Strapworld

You should make a formal complaint to the Chair of Governors (I am one, and have been so for many years). It is outrageous and unforgivable for any teacher to impose their personal political bias upon their charges. If that were to happen in my school I would be calling a Governing Body meeting with a view to instructing the Head to suspend the teacher in question until such time as a formal investigation could be carried out. However, in my (Primary) school the Head has enough commonsense and grip to stop this sort of thing dead in its tracks.

AndyinBrum

Strap I bet that story's utter bollox , I'm guessing someone asked a question and the teacher said 'some think that Labour blah blah, & your parents if they have the right should go out and vote for whoever they feel like' translates to 'Miss says ....'

Robert Williams

Labour shows its contempt for the electorate by arranging for disgraced member David Chaytor to put a tame question at PMQs. As this is the second week running that he has posed the question the PM most wants put, it reveals obvious intent by Labour for Chaytor to be seen clutched to its bosom.

Valerunner

@ Strapworld.

Should you feel hestiant at making that complaint lest you cause the teacher to lose his job, fear not. There's a post waiting for him in the BBC's Education department.

strapworld

andy in brum..sadly, the story is deadly accurate and not the testicles you suggest!

Fergus Pickering/David Ossitt/Chuck Unsworth I did suggest what you have written to my friend. He is a fighter so I know he will action it.

David Ossitt

john skinner

Your post is quite illuminating.

It shows that you have a great difficulty in using the nomenclature of others.

Your assertion that most teachers do not support the labour party; runs contrary to perceived wisdom.

You malign most members of the NAHT by inferring that most are so far to the right that they are nearly Nazi’s, and at the same time show your total lack of political savvy by implying that the Nazi’s were right wing, they were not they were of the left, hence what we call Nazi was the National Socialist German Workers' Party.

You ask why Lloyd Evans is writing for the paper; and then go on to speculate that it is for reasons of nepotism, or even worse that he sells his sexual favours for gain.

Why don’t you apologise?

barbara

I watched and wasn't impressed with either, the whole lot are boring have nothing to say only that they know best, if they do then why are we in such a mess. I say DUMP THE LOT and let's start afresh new faces new party, could we do worse don't think so.

Verity

I like Mr Hague and think he would make a sound and intelligent prime minister, but I think the hunger has subsided. He doesn't seem to put himself about enough to be seen as a contender. On the other hand, that could be part of the plan ...

After Mr Hague, Daniel Hannan's the man who could grind Gordon Brown and Harriet Hormone into the carpet. And do it with style and relish. He could also slice Jack Straw up into bite size chunks.

Chuck Unsworth

@ Strapworld

I'm very pleased and heartened that your friend has some mettle. I wish him(?) well. It is high time that the pernicious trend towards politicisation of all public services (and I include State Education) was reversed.

JONNY

'Daniel Hannan's the man'...

even if his most fervent admirers admit he's a bit of a grind.

Snowman

I thought we made a deal to never ever mention the woman again.

Ben Elford

Unfortunately for you, Lloyd, everyone else can also watch PMQs and come to their own conclusion.

Which is that once again you got it wrong.

The Masked Marvel

Hague over Dave any day, please.

2trueblue

If the tories do not go for the jugular, no matter who they are opposite, they are toast. Letting Liebore any wiggle room is off piste. This is our future and they are so far not up to the mark.

Watched the Clark/Mandy debate last night. Scary. The tories have to get with the program and nail these b.....ds to the floor boards. Nothing less will do. When Clark was not letting Mandy interrupt him between his 'AAAA', Snow was interrupting him.

Forget manners with this lot, shoot them down before it is too late. Liebore are looking slick, the content is poor but they are getting their airtime. Prevent that and maybe........

Sacre Bleu

William Hague was subject to very intense personal attacks by the Labour party a few years back, much of it taking the piss about his apparent juvenile appearance and it was not helped by the incompetant Amanda Platel. All this had nothing to do with his ability so who can blame him for a loss of political appetite for leadership. His knowledge of politics and Parliament probably far exceeds many of the current encumbents at Westminster today and perhaps there are those who should reflect on the wisdom of ever giving a 16 year old a platform at a party conference. It did him no favours. I still think he can make if the desire is there.

Kevyn Bodman

'Hague has lost his hunger for power'

This is one of the strongest attributes one could wish for in a Prime Minister.

Politicians foul things up;power-hungry politicians foul things up more.

Reduce the power of politicians,government and state.

stephen

If Nixon could come back why not Hague?

Maybe as a first move replacing the Weakest Link Boy George.

The Tories have some wonderful bullets to fire at Brown,Balls & Co yet the opinion polls are becalmed Go for it Dave give Hague Boy George's job; the time for flip flop is over, see what it did to Kerry

Fergu sPickering

I am glad to hear you are a neo-nazi, Mr Skinner. You should make an excelent teacher and crack down on the children HARD. Spare the rod, don't you know. Most teachers DO support the Labour Party, or rather more teachers support the Labour Party than either of the others. And of course Lid Dems are just socialists in disguise. I got this stuff from a recent poll. I think you will find it in Political Betting. Perhaps they are afraid to tell you. You keep them in fear, mate.

Victor Southern

"According to one of the wilder Tory theories, a hung parliament could force a humiliated Cameron from office and put the trusted Hague into Number 10 at the head of a coalition government". Huh?

Yet another exercise in unjustifiable innuendo and total fabrication by Lloyd Evans who is acquiring a reputation for being the most unreliable writer on Coffee House.

Marcher Baron

So Hague demonstrated understated superiority - and that was a failure? Sheesh! Next you'll be telling us he's useless because he's married to a Welshwoman, happens to be bald and comes from Yorkshire.

Liberty

In a meritocracy able people do better and earn more. Inequality is normal. It is an unfortunate fact that ability is not distributed evenly or randomly. Life is not fair. Ability varies a lot in degree and kind and education has little impact on ability. The range in ability is between the illiterate to Shakespeare and the innumerate to Einstein neither of whom had a good education. There are also different kinds of ability. In a test of mental arithmetic some will do very well, some very badly with most in the middle but on a test of calculus 80% will not be able to do it at all. Politicians are deluded to believe that the same schooling and giving money to the poor will make us all the same. The contradictory evidence is all around us.
In a market economy, high ability is worth vastly more than low ability as is the capacity to handle wealth and as there is no alternative to a market economy, wide gaps are natural. In modern economies technological development has meant that the rewards for high ability grow while the number of jobs for the low ability has shrunk. Add in means tested benefits that make it not worthwhile working, an education system that does not produce workers and import masses of immigrants to force down wages and the income and status gap is bound to grow. Ms Harman is and always has been part of the government that has done all these things. She only has herself to blame, or else she should have resigned.