What do yo think of Williamn Hague's statement re his marriage, miscarriages etc

[squeaver]

here

"a 25 year old man who he then pulled strings for to employ as yet another special advisor despite already having 2."

Hague already has three special advisers with this man becoming his fourth.

The third adviser, a speech writer, is employed as a civil servant which allows Hague to try and claim that she's not a "special adviser" directly employed by him.

I give a stuff about that. Given the current programme of cuts, an add-on policy of "except William Hague who really needs an extra adviser, poor lamb" is something that should be commented on. If painful, to-the-bone cuts are necessary, then they are necessary.

I'm not suggesting Ffion wasn't consulted, or that she didn't agree or even suggest it, just that the whole thing was misguided. It can't help them really (as this thread shows) it'll only hurt.

"It can't help them really (as this thread shows) it'll only hurt."

Given how many people are just discussing the statement and calling the media disgusting rather than discuss what's actually going on you could say that Hague's distraction and avoidance tactic has actually worked pretty well....

Assuming it's true, of course. Although politicians never lie, cheat or connive, do they? Apart from Jeffrey Archer.

People keep blaming the media, but I think they are wrong. The media usually turn a blind eye to these things and never inform the public. Remember Mr. Integrity? There were reports that it was common knowledge in Westminster circles, and yet we still had some of his closest friends and ex-politicians saying they had no knowledge of it. Ted Heath, was similar. The media didn't pry into his private life, and yet later a politician came out and said it was common knowledge in Westminster.

I think the media was forced to shine a light on this situation, because the conservative blogger, Guido Fawkes, had brought it up. The media couldn't ignore it, because Guido has many thousands of politically aware and possibly influential Tory readers.

claig - the media only reported once Hague released his statement. They wouldn't report on rumour - not when so many of them publicly back the Tory Party

This story has been going round the blogosphere for weeks. If he'd said nothing then I don't think the story would have merited more than a few lines now it is front page news. I believe Hague has been badly advised - perhaps to take the heat off the Coulson/phone-tapping story??

In essence, what Hague actually said - in response to allegations of inappropriate conduct re the man (in terms of giving him a job and sharing a room with him)- was "I'm not gay. I'm married. And I'll have you know we have sex."

Doesn't really answer the questions posed though does it? It is a bit strange. If he wants to talk about mc's then fine. But it isn't really relevant is it. Anyway, Paul O'Grady has a daughter fgs!

no I think the Telegraph and the Daily Mail (both interestingly Tory papers) had made allusions to the story, talking about a cabinet minister prepared to take out an injunction. It was obvious that the dam was about to break (but as usual the left-wing Guardian etc. would not be part of any probing). All of this has come from the right.

It was the Telegraph that broke the MPs expenses scandal, not those supposedly investigative left-wing papers. If you are left-wing, you could learn a lot about politics by reading the non-politically correct Guido Fawkes blog. Some of the comments on there will shock you, because it is not politically correct, but if you are able to overcome that, then you will learn lots about both the Labour party and the Tory party, that you will never be told about in the official media and the left-wing press.

The media did report on him employer yet another special advisor whilst saying that politicians ought to take cuts. But I'm surprised that left wing papers didn't make more of a deal about that.

So what prompted Hague's statement? The blog or the fact that Mr Myers resigned?

I feel sorry for Hague.

He was only 16 when he became devoted to the Tory party and in particular Magaret Thatcher. It wasn't a promising adolesence...all that deep voiced strident aggression with box handbags and perms. A young boy would be mighty confused.

Pore ol Willy

do you think people would have been more ready to believe their marriage was genuine if Ffion had been a bit more like Margaret Thatcher?

Pagwatch

I'm not at all surprised by the left-wing media, just as I wasn't surprised that they didn't want to report on the MPs expenses scandal. The real question is what prompted Mr. Muer's resignation? Why resign? Then why the statement? The blog kicked off the rumours. Many people had read the blog, it could no longer be hidden.

the number of Hagues advisors is only a story if it is greatly more than the number for the labour minister (s) occupying the same role(s) was. He does some to have more going on than most ministers - he is Camerons right hand man in the party.

funny this is not - whichever way you view it. either a man has violated his wifes right to privacy for political ends, or he has been forced to it by scurrilous press speculation (essentially homophobic). ha fucking ha.

although i hadn't heard any rumour about that aide prior to this story, the view from Westminster may have been very different. Who knows?

There once was a boy called Hague
Whose leanings were frightfully vague

Anyone?

'This isn't just a job in politics, this is a high position given to a man who only left University three years ago. Contrary to apparent usual Tory practice he also has no experience of working at Tory HQ.'

Just like David Miliband, who went straight in to a similar role for Labour when he left university.

Edgar, have you read the thread re hypocrisy, Ffion's complicity etc etc etc?

But thats the point Edgar. He wasn't forced to discuss mc's. He chose to. Whether it be as a cynical deflection from the real issue or a "look we're having a shitty time now f off" response.

Presumably Ffion must be in agreement with the statement. Frankly if she isn't that is grounds for divorce in my book. Then he really would be in trouble.

I don't think the press are homophobic at all. The news is that he is on the one hand telling Westminster to make cuts whilst he employs his fourth special advisor at a cost of £50,000 to the tax payer. He has supported anti-gay legislature so if it does turn out that he is gay, there's another piece of hypocrisy for you. He is either telling the truth in his statement or he is lying. After a statement like that, if he is lying then it'll be a Clinton moment to be sure.

He'll be ruined.

There is nothing homophobic about all of this and everything hypocritical.

Which is why it should be a story, Edgar -- David Miliband and Jack Straw both managed with two advisers, but Hague apparently needed four (rounded down to three on a technicality) even though David Cameron has pledged to cut down the number of special advisers and the relevant section of the ministerial code has been updated to say that Cabinet Ministers may appoint "one or two" advisers rather than the previous wording that they may appoint "up to two" [would have thought that "one or two" means the same as "up to two", unless using some new and unfamiliar number system, but then I'm not a politician].

And being a right hand man "in the party" shouldn't effect what public funds are expected to be used for.

Does that mean he uses his right hand?