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Hague rules out leadership return Hague rules out leadership return
(about 12 hours later)
William Hague has ruled out a return as Conservative leader - saying that losing the top job was "personally the best thing that ever happened to me".William Hague has ruled out a return as Conservative leader - saying that losing the top job was "personally the best thing that ever happened to me".
The shadow foreign secretary told Tory activists he had since discovered music and writing, adding that the leadership was not a job he wanted to do again.The shadow foreign secretary told Tory activists he had since discovered music and writing, adding that the leadership was not a job he wanted to do again.
Mr Hague, leader from 1997-2001, said he did not think he was "normal".Mr Hague, leader from 1997-2001, said he did not think he was "normal".
This was because of his politically obsessed childhood and photographic memory of electoral facts, he said.This was because of his politically obsessed childhood and photographic memory of electoral facts, he said.
'Staggered''Staggered'
Mr Hague made the comments during an interview with The Observer's Andrew Rawnsley at the Conservative's conference in Bournemouth.Mr Hague made the comments during an interview with The Observer's Andrew Rawnsley at the Conservative's conference in Bournemouth.
The wonderful thing about not wanting to be leader of the party again is I never have to say I'm normal, I'm rid of all that stuff. William HagueThe wonderful thing about not wanting to be leader of the party again is I never have to say I'm normal, I'm rid of all that stuff. William Hague
Asked if he would ever consider going for the leadership again, Mr Hague said: "I don't want to do that. I don't think I'll ever do that.Asked if he would ever consider going for the leadership again, Mr Hague said: "I don't want to do that. I don't think I'll ever do that.
"I would be staggered if I ever did so. I think I can safely rule that out."I would be staggered if I ever did so. I think I can safely rule that out.
"I have come back into politics on a different basis now. I did find that leaving the leadership of the party was personally the best thing that ever happened to me and I discovered a whole new life in music, writing books, which I love doing at least as much as politics.""I have come back into politics on a different basis now. I did find that leaving the leadership of the party was personally the best thing that ever happened to me and I discovered a whole new life in music, writing books, which I love doing at least as much as politics."
Mr Hague said he had decided to return to the frontbench after he quit as leader in 2001 "because I think we have got the chance to get it together now".Mr Hague said he had decided to return to the frontbench after he quit as leader in 2001 "because I think we have got the chance to get it together now".
Unlike before, he was not worried about whether he would be the leader or not, or "whether I'm popular or unpopular", or seen as "normal", he said.Unlike before, he was not worried about whether he would be the leader or not, or "whether I'm popular or unpopular", or seen as "normal", he said.
'Faintly autistic'?'Faintly autistic'?
Speaking about his politically-obsessed childhood and his photographic memory for electoral statistics, he said: "The great thing, the wonderful thing about having been leader of the party and not wanting to be leader of the party again is I never have to say I'm normal, I'm rid of all that stuff.Speaking about his politically-obsessed childhood and his photographic memory for electoral statistics, he said: "The great thing, the wonderful thing about having been leader of the party and not wanting to be leader of the party again is I never have to say I'm normal, I'm rid of all that stuff.
"I'm not normal. If you want a foreign minister who is normal - good luck to you.""I'm not normal. If you want a foreign minister who is normal - good luck to you."
Pressed to say whether he saw himself as "faintly autistic" - as shadow chancellor George Osborne reportedly suggested about Chancellor Gordon Brown, Mr Hague said: "Yes, I think I probably am a bit like that."Pressed to say whether he saw himself as "faintly autistic" - as shadow chancellor George Osborne reportedly suggested about Chancellor Gordon Brown, Mr Hague said: "Yes, I think I probably am a bit like that."
Mr Hague said: "I have come back to do my best because I really care what happens to the party and the country."Mr Hague said: "I have come back to do my best because I really care what happens to the party and the country."
But he said if ever thought he had nothing else to offer, he would "live quietly - or not so quietly - with Ffion and write books and I would be very happy doing that".But he said if ever thought he had nothing else to offer, he would "live quietly - or not so quietly - with Ffion and write books and I would be very happy doing that".