Hague Quits Tory Leadership As Blair Wins Landslide Re-Election

The British Conservative Party Leader, William Hague, has responded to the re-election of the Blair Labour Government by announcing his resignation.

Claiming that the Conservatives were better placed now than they were after the 1997 election, citing local government election victories as evidence of this dubious proposition, Hague said that nevertheless "no-one is indispensable".

The Tory leader said he would stay on until such time as the party could organise itself, particularly the important 1922 Committee.

Hague's most likely successor is Michael Portillo. Kenneth Clarke is a possibility, but is widely regarded as too pro-Europe to be able to win the support of his colleagues.

Hague's departure comes in the aftermath of a second landslide win to Labour that makes it the first Labour government to win re-election to what will be a complete second term.

The Labour Party has won 413 seats (previously 418), the Conservatives have 164 seats (165) and the Liberal Democrats have 47 seats (46). A number of results have not yet been declared and 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland have not yet been counted.

• Hague's Resignation Speech

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