Hague 'nearly quit to save Platell'

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Dennis Kavanagh: How William Hague lost the election

The former Tory leader William Hague once threatened to resign as party chief rather than bow to Michael Portillo's demands to sack his spin doctor Amanda Platell, according to a new book.

The tense episode, revealing the feuding inside the Conservative Party's high command, is disclosed in The Independent today by the academic Dennis Kavanagh, co-author of a guide to recent general elections.

The account of this year's election will tell how Mr Portillo and his ally Francis Maude, the shadow Foreign Secretary, demanded the removal of Ms Platell, accusing her of briefing against them in the press.

The demand came just days after Mr Portillo joined the Shadow Cabinet last year. "Hague, realising that his authority was under challenge, refused," writes Mr Kavanagh.

It was not the last time that Mr Hague would have to face down this powerful pair. Faced with a "her or us" ultimatum later in the year, he warned Mr Portillo and Mr Maude that, if they resigned, so would he," says the article.

"Maude ... did submit a letter of resignation but, in the end, the pair backed down. Hague found the whole business dispiriting. Along with the bad press and poor polls, it was a reason that led him periodically to thinking of giving up during 2000."

According to Mr Kavanagh, the embattled Tory leader also considered resigning after a backlash inside his party over a speech by his deputy, Peter Lilley, that sought to draw a line under the Thatcher era.

He reveals: "Hague was so dismayed at the reaction of many MPs and activists ... and at his own misjudgement, he seriously thought of resigning." The book pinpoints Mr Lilley's speech as a pivotal moment in Mr Hague's leadership. The backlash persuaded Mr Hague to abandon his attempt to broaden his party's appeal by addressing the "kitchen table" issues of most concern to floating voters, such as health, education and public services.

Mr Kavanagh says: "Hague was startled at the hostility. It was a decisive event for him and the party. It forced Hague off his initial 'inclusive' strategy." Instead, he focused on "core" Tory issues such as Europe, asylum, and law and order.

Senior Tories now admit their failure to campaign on public services during the election was a huge mistake. Mr Hague ignored colleagues' doubts about his strategy.

Today's article also reveals Mr Hague's relief when Kenneth Clarke, whom he defeated in the Tory leadership election of 1997, turned down his offer to become deputy leader. He described Mr Clarke's decision as "a second birthday present". Mr Hague is backing Iain Duncan Smith against Mr Clarke in the current leadership contest.