David Cameron pays tribute to William Hague with terrible Yorkshire impersonation

The impression came as the Prime Minister heaped praise for keeping the country safe throughout his term as Foreign Secretary

Hague laughs at Cameron's impersonation (ITN)

David Cameron might be many things, but an impressionist he is not.

In what was one of the most cringe-worthy things to come out of the Conservative Party conference this week, Mr Cameron, who grew up in the very southern county of Berkshire, summoned all of the Yorkshire he had in him to impersonate Rotherham-born former foreign secretary William Hague.

During the speech, the Prime Minister broke away from the more serious issues of the NHS, Isis and tax cuts to mimic Hague, saying in a jaunty northern accent: “Some of you won’t be here in 30 years’ time,” referencing Mr Hague's famous 1977 Tory conference speech, delivered at the ripe age of 16.

More Alistair Cook than Alistair McGowan, the PM received a polite laugh and round of applause from those watching at the ICC in Birmingham, quickly following his impression with the declaration that he "wouldn't be giving up his day job.”

Mr Cameron called Mr Hague Britain’s “greatest living Yorkshireman” and “someone to whom I owe an enormous debt of gratitude.”

He also praised the man who is due to stand down from Parliament after the general election in 2015, for keeping the country safe during his tenure as foreign secretary and thanked him for his support throughout the four years they spent in government together.