Who is the British foreign secretary?

telemachus'

We will be heaps better off without Baldy Hague upsetting the Europeans

Holly ......

Just wait for the mardy tantrums when Clegg is 'batted away' by the PM.

Let the DPM think he is important,but when the final decisions are made, Clegg will find out he is impotent where European decisions are concerned.

I reckon Cameron & Osborne have this all planned out.

PayDirt

Ah, politics, don't you just love it.

Nicholas

Clegg is just emulating Gordon Brown who was his own foreign secretary whenever the opportunity of limelight presented itself.

stereodog

I think this is probably reading too much into what's happening. Nick Clegg has excellent contacts in Europe, speaks a number of languages, has a Spanish wife and experience of EU politics. It would be foolish not to make use of his skills and I think it shows a mature attitude on behalf of Hague and Cameron.

Andrew

"Baldy Hague" - what an absolutely terrific nickname that is. May I congratulate you on your astonishing ingenuity and wit that you have displayed here so magnificently.

Sir Graphus

We will be heaps better off with Baldy Hague upsetting the Europeans, rather than Clegg working in direct opposition to the PM

Hexhamgeezer

It's a bit early in the day for press releases from 'Baroness' Ashton's office isn't it?

strapworld

Hague has been the biggest dissapointment in this government of mainly third grade politicians. Can anyone tell me anything of note Hague has done as Foreign Secretary?

So Hague or cleggy, does it really matter?

Austin Barry

Why would Cameron place Clegg in the invidious position of always having to deny allegations that his independence has been suborned, compromised and corrupted by his enormous EU pension? Unless......

Frank P

What foolish fantasies you foster, Daniel. Time you escaped from the double insulation of the Westminster Bubble and the think tanks therein - get some fresh air, FFS.

Ed B

I'm in two minds about putting Clegg in charge of European policy. Gut reaction says “OMG you cannot be serious, that’s like putting a kiddy fiddler in charge of a kindergarten”.

But on the other hand this could be yet another bit of fiendish cunning from Cameron. Let Clegg be the one to get repeatedly shafted by the French and the Germans, let him become the whipping boy for the Tory backbenchers, and when he goes too far in surrendering sovereignty (as he most certainly will) then pull the rug from under him and call a referendum on whatever idiotic concession he has made. This would most likely provoke a general election and leave the Lib Dems forced to campaign on a manifestly unpopular platform.

John Clegg

Ed B, You're trying to be "too clever by half".

As with most actions of our incompetent polititions, the "cock-up theory" is probably nearer the mark.

Mycroft

One of the good things about Clegg is that he speaks other languages fluently, and is not resolutely monoglot as so many British people tend to be, being able to manage nothing better than Churchillian French at the best; a useful skill in this context.

Dennis Churchill

To the public Clegg is the EU’s representative in the UK’s parliament.
This means that it would be harder for him to sell any EU policy to the electorate as being in the UK’s interest than any other member of the government.
The political class need to reconnect with the electorate on the EU.They are not only not trusted but positively distrusted to work in our interests.
Clegg and others’ revocable pensions need to be dealt with by declarations of interest in the same way as other pecuniary interests are declared.

Scary Biscuits

Mycroft, It is a good think that he speaks foreign languages but not how he uses that skill. He is on a personal mission not one representing his country. He joins a long list of British elitists who have felt more at home with their peers abroad than they do with their own countrymen. Not for nothing were the words 'no foreign princes' inserted into the Magna Carta.

an ex-tory voter

"build new bridges to Europe" why of course, just what the voters have been waiting for.
Circumstances not conviction forced, or maybe they allowed, David Cameron to act (or at least, to appear to act)in the best interests of the nation. Having taken full advantage of the ensuing nonsense, it has taken him very little time to resume his undeclared europhile agenda. He and Clegg are a polished and duplicitious double act. Cameron stands back enjoying the plaudits for his imaginary veto while Clegg continues the political moves towards their joint EU federal goal.
The seekers of euro truth and any true conservatives in the Conservative Party need to stay wide awake or they will be rogered yet again.

Cjamesk

Even the costs of leaving the monstrous EU don't look as bad as the Europhile / BBC axis of federalism would have you believe:

http://www.pwc.pl/pl/publikacje/What_next_for_Europe_f.pdf

Andy Carpark

Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane.
I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye.
God it looks like Daniel,
Must be the clouds in my eyes

Nicholas

Speak for yourself Mycroft. I'm fluent in several other languages but it doesn't me make pro-EU. Just as being monoglot wouldn't make me anti-EU - necessarily.

I realise this bucks the trend for stereotyping "Little Englanders". Sorry 'bout that.

Verity

Stereo Dog - What the hell does having a Spanish wife have to do with anything? Nigel Farage has a German wife. Maybe he should invited to be foreign secretary, given that Germany is infinitely richer, more powerful and more influential on the world stage than Spain, for God's sake.

Nick Clegg is a rabid, gnawing, uppity, greedy little nonentity.

The Engineer

You say:
"William Hague - who has put in some decent work since assuming office ..."

You patronising git!

fergus pickering

I've got an Irish wife. And I speak Latin and Ancient Greek. Can I be Foreign Secretary then?

Fernando

There are other good reasons why Clegg has been active in this field without accusing him of usurping the position of foreign secretary. Westerwelle is, after all, a fellow Liberal and Clegg is a fluent Spanish speaker with a Spanish wife.
The big problem of people like Clegg is that in order to have much influence in the EU you need to be part of the eurozone. Sarkozy and Merkel are openly irritated by our interventions in eurozone affairs. Even if other countries leave, France and Germany have made no secret that their commitment to the project is undiminished. Clegg and his fellow Europhiles have made no attempt to persuade the British electorate of the benefits of euro membership. They’ve never mounted a sustained campaign, never argued the case in the Commons or anywhere else and never commissioned research on the possible benefits. All we’ve had, is the claim that membership was inevitable. Well it’s too late now.
We are heading for a new relationship with the rest of the EU, either from a position within the EU or on the outside. They have no-one else to blame but themselves.

David Ossitt

Nick Clegg is not a good actor; he would be an even worse as a poker player, his troubles and fears show in his face and he is quick to blush.

Despite this; with all of the financial problems that we are facing, this dim twit is constantly going out on a limb, telling anyone who will listen what he is doing or is intending to do in every area of government.

If I were a Minister of State and if this dead donkey were to step out of line and twitter and bray on matters that were in my brief I would metaphorically cut his balls off and hang them out on News Night for all to see.

It is high time he was called in to Cameron’s office to be given a very public six of the best.

Cynic

It seems that Clegg has appointed himself Minister for the EU. On that front, I've been advised of yet another EU foul up (by a continental radio ham). The EMCD is about to be revised and during this revision they are removing exemption for hams who modify commercial equipment and for kits of components. The result of this stupidity will make producing such kits uneconomic and lay an expensive administrative burden on those of us (I'm licensed) who modify commercial equipment. I've written to my MEPs (there are half a dozen who are supposed to represent me!), but I don't hold out much hope of a sane outcome. Yet one more reason why we don't need the EU! I've posted this here, by the way, because none of the other posting options, including the Wall, was available and I think it's something that should be widely publicised.

Andy Carpark

'And I speak Latin and Ancient Greek.'

Fergus, you blowhard. Not even Oxford dons 'speak' Latin and Greek.

Marcher Baron

@Mycroft "One of the good things about Clegg is that he speaks other languages fluently, and is not resolutely monoglot as so many British people tend to be ..." Der arme Mycroft, Sie verstahen nicht; the British have little incentive to speak a foreign language since English is a world language and the second language of choice in places like China, thus making it the most widely spoken language. It is also structurally simpler than inflected continental languages. We are not, however, mon cher Mycroft, resolutely monoglot. Some of us speak many foreign languages. I, for instance, can even make sense of Welsh since my TV channels pick up Ess pedwar Eck (S4C).

TrevorsDen

Clegg has to do something to earn his crust and it may well suit the govt to play good cop bad cop

William Blakes Ghost

As someone above said all Clegg is, is a sad impotent imitation of Brown, the enemy within, with one essential and vital difference. Clegg has no hope of ever replacing Cameron thank god!

Verity

Hexhamgeezer - Thank you for bringing "baroness" Ashton to our attention. Does anyone know what this gargoyle does, or how much she is paid for her non-job, and how much her office space and staff cost, and how much she get compensated for "expenses"? In other words, what does this gargoyle nonentity cost the working British and what is she tasked with that is worth the cost?

Phil Chuds

I've said it before and i'll say it again . Mp's arent allowed conflicts of interest whilst 'working' . Gleggy has an EU pension . Cleggy is speaking up for the EU . If this isnt a conflict of interest then i'm Elvis . Why doesnt anyone in the corridoors of power challenge this ?

Anna

>>But others in the Tory party won't like it nearly as much.<<

Including this resigned member of the Tory party awaiting developements that may or may not encourage me to renew my subscription.

In 1973 I was young & naive. I thought politicians told the truth. Heath was a bit weird, but surely when he said we were joining a free trade area with no further agenda he was being honest?

Two years later I'd grown up a bit and in 1975 I voted against continued membership of the then EEC because I could see the writing on the wall. I haven't since had cause to change my mind.

It doesn't surprise me that Nick Clegg and his acolytes should be so enthusiastic for the EU. It's an illiberal and anti-democratic institution and if anything defines today's "Liberals" it's being illiberal and authoritarian. "If you don't think as we do, you're wrong and have to be silenced."

Not that the other major parties are much better. Cameron & Osborne squeak a bit, but they'll lie down to be rolled over in the end. They're all in thrall to corporate interests and powerful lobbying. I'll believe that stuff about the Single Market and 3 million jobs at risk when I see SMEs joining the chorus, which to date they conspicuously have not. Who knows... maybe they will and I'll have to eat my hat! Meanwhile I'll continue to think we'd be a whole lot better off shot of the EU, expanding our trade into non-sclerotic economies, and for God's sake making our OWN rules.

But heigh-ho! My opinion isn't worth a straw, won't make the slightest difference to anything, any more than opposed opinion will make the slightest difference to what the elites choose to do. My resolution for the New Year is to cease tilting at windmills, hunker down, avoid blogs that raise my blood pressure, pay my tax, resign myself to a miserable, shivering, old age courtesy of Chris Huhne, and consign the lot of them to Hell!

Happy Christmas one and all :)

Verity

Andy Carpark 4:24 pm - Well held, sir!

And, David Ossitt - Well spotted that Clegg is not a good actor. He is a spoiled child. His petty, self-regarding little face tells us all.

Nicholas

Anna, small consolation I know, but you are not alone.

Merry Christmas.

Dennis Churchill

Phil Chuds
December 20th, 2011 5:49pm]
My guess is that they have allowed themselves some type of exemption so EU pensions with loyalty clauses are exempt.
It is so blatant there must be a Speaker’s ruling on it somewhere.

Dennis Churchill

Anna
December 20th, 2011 6:14pm
Yes the 3 million jobs!
Nothing about the £34 billion a year trade deficit, that must be 4 million EU jobs (my random number generator is as good as theirs) so we should swap and gain 1 million jobs---someone write to the Telegraph letters’ Editor.

David Dee

Presumably Mr. Vague may have
been too busy. You may recall that Mr. Vagus was going to give up al his other jobs to conventrate on his job if he was to become a minister in the Tory-led government !!!

Gusee how many he has given up ??

Or better still,ask him,when he has some free time !!!

Willy Wireworm

Recommended reading:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/benedictbrogan/100125337/william-hague-has-the-frites-fraternity%E2%80%99-on-the-run-across-whitehall/

Dean

Tory MP Peter Bone keeps asking a good question:

If Cameron drops dead, who runs the country?

Surely not deputy PM Clegg, who leads a tiny, unpopular party.

In the US they have a clear succession; president, vice-president, speaker.

What's our line-up?

Verity

Dean - I have a terrible feeling that it might be the Speaker. Someone please tell me I am wrong!

David Ossitt

Dean

“If Cameron drops dead, who runs the country?”

A caretaker a Conservative will stand in, until the Conservative party elect a new leader.

Tarka the Rotter

Who is the British Foreign Secretary?

Lord Castlereagh?
Lord Palmerston?
Lord Curzon?
Ernest Bevin?

Nope...Willie Hague.

Shit.

Barbara

When it comes to the important bits, Hague will be at the front, make no mistake. Clegg is allowed to show his face but he won't make decisions, thank God. Cameron allows him to pontificate but lets face it, Clegg is so reviled in the country at the moment, who takes any notice of him, really!
Where as Hague, is respected, speaks sensibly, and his the Home Secretary and no one can change that except the PM, I can't see him doing that. We need a Tory in that job and a man we can trust. We don't trust Clegg or your mad if you do.

Cynic

Tarka the Rotter December 21st, 2011 5:09pm. Take heart, old chap. It could still have been a Milipede!