Hague talks politics & faith
Fraser Nelson 3:16pm
After hearing Tony Blair's first confession, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor is on a roll. He landed Blair for a speech on religion at Westminster Cathedral earlier this month, and now he's lined up William Hague for another talk. The shadow foreign secretary's lecture on Thursday, entitled "Practical politics, principled faith", has now sold out. Is our Wilberforce biographer being primed for Tory liaison officer with God?
To fill that vast, half-finished building takes some doing - so Hague's done well. He'll presumably have to tone down his normal stand-up comedy routine. ("Have you lived here all your life?, I asked this voter. 'Not yet' he replied"). But perhaps the mark of these speeches is to make a huge howler - à la Tony Blair. "Since leaving office, I have understood better a phenomenon I understood only partially as Prime Minister," declared our ex-PM in his speech. "China has gone from a standing start to arguably the most powerful nation on the continent of Africa." A-ha! China is actually in Africa, despite what that dastardly Foreign Office says! I wonder what other revelations have struck Blair since leaving office. Iain Dale thought that was a typo and he actually said "influence". Nope, the plonker actually read the script - watch him on the Cardinal's video at 20 mins 6 seconds in.
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CS
April 21st, 2008 4:02pm Report this commentWhat is the howler in saying that China has become the most powerful country in Africa?
Tiberius
April 21st, 2008 4:42pm Report this commentThe context of the speech does not suggest Blair is talking about China's economic imperialism in Africa. One recent example that Blair is actually talking sense is the way international cricket is increasingly dominated by the wishes of India.
Fraser Nelson
April 21st, 2008 5:05pm Report this commentI'm being mean - it was badly phrased. Like Tiberius, I actually thought Blair's speech was rather good and that it is strange to think that China is the biggest influence on Africa - especially in Sudan, etc.
CCTV
April 21st, 2008 6:04pm Report this commentI doubt Hague has any insight on God, and frankly a politician is usually amoral and narcissistic...Hague is simply tedious
Fergus Pickering
April 21st, 2008 6:12pm Report this commentCCTV. That is rather mean-spirited is it not. And I don't expect him to have an insight on God. What a vile phrase that is. We don't have insights on God. God (perhaps) has insights on us.
Tanuki
April 21st, 2008 6:25pm Report this commentPersonally, while it's probably OK for assorted cardinals, archbishops, mullahs, rabbis etc to do so, I'd rather not have my politicans talking openly about their imaginary friends. It doesn't exactly build an image of trustworthiness or sanity.
Max Kaye
April 21st, 2008 7:04pm Report this commentI agree with Tanuki. I must admit that it worries me when nice, sensible chaps like Hague start talking about faith, faeries or whatever....
DougS
April 21st, 2008 9:16pm Report this commentAs everyone now seems to agree, Blair meant political influence, but it probably should have been clearer . . . .
On the substance of that comment, it’s typical left wing, New Labour trendiness and superficiality. Yes, China is a lot more powerful than even just a few years ago, and she’s coming on strong -- and in a menacing way.
But even to think about challenging the U.S. for dominance will be a long time coming. China is a country with a lot of problems, and she’s no where nearly as powerful as the U.S., even in Africa.
As it is, China has a tendency to focus on economic issues and is rather condemned for failing to use her weight to deal with, say, Darfur. Understandable policy from this completely amoral state.
Still, without having done any research, I’d guess the U.S. and possibly a European country or two does more trade than China with Africa. Let’s not forget, for example, that North Africa pumps a lot of oil; and a Gadaffi keeps, for example, keeps an eye more on the U.S. and Europe than he does on China.
There’s also American influence in Egypt; American military involvement of a sorts in Somalia, among a number of other African countries; and on and on with not only trade and political involvement but with education, the supply of expertise and with charities and international aid across the continent.
So . . . it’s Tony Blair trying to make a splash and be modern and surprising and all that flashy nonsense he’s so good at.
China is the coming nation . . . and probably will be for the next forty or fifty years. But it is not nearly as powerful as Blair would suggest.
Needs a new speech writer at very least.
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