Hague faces leadership threat

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, NOV. 29. Barely a week after his party lost three key parliamentary bye- elections strengthening the Labour's resolve to go in for early general elections next summer, the knives are out for Mr. William Hague and there is already talk of a `succession war' in Tory circles. Faction leaders have begun to mobilise support for themselves, with the Shadow Home Secretary, Ms. Anne Widdecombe, likely to emerge as a serious contender though a `stop Widdecombe' campaign by `moderate' Tories is in full swing.

The Shadow Chancellor, Mr. Michael Portillo, who was being projected as the moderates' candidate pulled out of the race on Tuesday saying he has `no ambition' to be the leader of the party, leaving the field open for the shadow foreign secretary, Mr. Francis Maude. Indeed, Mr. Portillo's decision itself is said to be prompted by strategic considerations. His controversial `gay' background and some of his recent statements have made him vulnerable and would have weakened the moderates' challenge to the right-wing Ms. Widdecombe, though she herself would have to work hard to live down the recent controversy over her proposal for a crackdown on drug abuse. Mr. Hague is becoming increasingly isolated and is seen as a `liability' for the party. The loss of the bye- elections, particularly the West Bromwich West seat where the Labour was particularly weak, is attributed by his critics in the party to his `leadership' failure.

There is a growing perception that he lacks charisma and is not able to motivate either the party activists or the voters. A major factor behind the Tories' resounding defeat in last week's elections was their failure to motivate their potential supporters to get to the polling booth - something which the Labour managed to do remarkably well. He is also seen as being too self-centred, and not open to ideas.

Increasingly, the fear in Tory circles is that under Mr. Hague the party might end up, in the general elections, campaigning only on one issue: Europe. The Labour on the other end would talk about issues closer home such as investment in public services, policies to protect ethnic minorities, pensions, and anti-racism campaign. It is pointed out that despite widespread euro- scepticism, it is not an issue on which a general election can be won.

In a general election, it is the domestic the bread- and-butter that interest voters. Commentators say that Mr. Hague has reduced the Tories to a `one-issue' party and that is going to cost them dearly. The Labour Party, aware of Mr. Hague's vulnerability, is reportedly planning to target him as the `weakest link' in its election campaign. The Times quoted a senior Labour official as saying: ``We will tell the voters that if they can't imagine Hague walking through Downing Street's front door, they shouldn't let him sneak through the back door.'' The Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, is understood to be keen on appearing on a `live' TV debate with him because he thinks Mr. Hague, for all his smart one-liners, cannot match his own rhetorical skills.

Meanwhile, in the coming weeks, Mr. Hague would be under enormous pressure from his own party to rethink the election strategy, and take the fight into the Labour camp instead of running a defensive campaign.

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Section  : International
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