William Hague is not noted for agonies of self-doubt. But the former Tory leader’s judgement, in his Telegraph column on which of Johnson and Hunt is best suited to lead his party and our country, was not a close run thing: Hunt is one of the most impressive ministers Hague has worked alongside, and might even avert what he sees as the catastrophe of a no-deal Brexit; Johnson has made him laugh.
At a time of national emergency, Hague went for the least amusing of the two.
None of which will surprise Brexit true believers, because Hague has been saying clearly and loudly for some time that he fears leaving the EU without an agreement would make us considerably poorer and could precipitate the fission of Northern Ireland and Scotland from the UK.
So he was always going to favour the candidate, Hunt, who he thinks offers a marginally better prospect of a managed, orderly Brexit.
But the timing and clarity of Hague’s endorsement of Hunt is not harmless to Johnson and his team – because they fear the tide is moving against them.
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