Conservative Party conference: David Cameron describes William Hague as 'our greatest living Yorkshireman'

The Prime Minister attempted an impersonation of Mr Hague's Yorkshire accent during a speech at the Conservative Party Conference

David Cameron gives his keynote speech to the Conservative party conference in Birmingham (Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

David Cameron has described William Hague as "our greatest living Yorkshireman" as he paid tribute to the outgoing former Conservative leader.

In his speech today at the Conservative Party Conference, the Prime Minister also attempted an impersonation of Mr Hague's Yorkshire accent before describing how he owed his colleague "an enormous debt of gratitude".

Mr Cameron recalled how Mr Hague, who as a boy had a record collection which consisted of dozens of Winston Churchill speeches and one Dire Straits album, rose through the ranks in politics.

The speech raised laughter and applause among delegates at the conference in Birmingham, before Mr Cameron said: "All right, I won't give up the day job.

"Now, when he was a teenager he didn't only address the Tory Party conference, he read Hansard in bed and he had a record collection that apparently consisted of one album by Dire Straits and dozens of speeches by Winston Churchill.

"His dad said: 'He was just a normal happy boy'.

"All I can say is this: that boy became an amazing parliamentarian, a brilliant foreign secretary, our greatest living Yorkshireman and someone to whom I owe an enormous debt of gratitude - William Hague."

Mr Cameron went on to say Mr Hague had one final task before leaving politics at the next general election, telling delegates he was required to bring "fairness to our constitution".

He said: "During that referendum campaign we made a vow to the Scottish people - that they will get more powers and we will keep our vow.

"But here is my vow to the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland - I know the system is unfair, I know you are asking if Scotland can vote separately on things like tax, on spending, on welfare why can't England, Wales and Northern Ireland do the same, and I know you want this answered.

"So this is my vow: English votes for English laws, the Conservatives will deliver it."