WELCOME TO SWOLAF'S BLOG : William Hague is out in Tory night of the long knives: Foreign Secretary shifted to junior role as axe falls on male ministers to make way for Cameron's rising women stars

Foreign Secretary William Hague dramatically quits as Foreign Secretary

Prime Minister culls Conservative white middle-aged men in reshuffle

Former Chancellor Ken Clarke resigns to return to the backbenches

Andrew Lansley, Dominic Grieve, and Owen Paterson leaving Government

PM to promote women including Esther McVey, Liz Truss and Nicky Morgan

Hague will remain in the Cabinet as leader of the Commons

He will remain First Secretary of State for nine months, then quit as MP

William Hague dramatically quit as Foreign Secretary last night as David Cameron embarked on a cull of white, middle-aged men in his most brutal reshuffle since becoming Tory leader.
More than a dozen ministers – including Cabinet veteran Kenneth Clarke, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, Attorney General Dominic Grieve, Welsh Secretary David Jones and leader of the Commons Andrew Lansley – are leaving the Government.
Mr Cameron’s shake-up is designed to make way for a new generation of younger MPs, many of them women, including rising stars Elizabeth Truss, Esther McVey and Nicky Morgan.

Drama: William Hague dramatically quit as Foreign Secretary last night as David Cameron embarked on a cull of white, middle-aged men in his most brutal reshuffle since becoming Tory leader

But it risks a backlash from the Tory old guard, who protested that many were being unfairly axed simply for being ‘pale and male’. One senior Conservative said: ‘This is a massacre.’

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They may be placated by the return to Government today of former defence secretary and keeper of the Thatcherite flame Liam Fox, who is ’80 per cent certain’ to win a senior post.
The biggest shock was the departure from the Foreign Office of Mr Hague, the former Conservative leader, at a time of intense focus on Mr Cameron’s policy of renegotiating looser ties with Brussels.

Confirmation: William Hague took to Twitter to confirm the news he would be stepping down

Stepping down: Hague revealed that he would not be standing in the next General Election

New role: For the time being Hague will remain in the Cabinet, taking Andrew Lansley's old job as leader of the Commons

Time frame: By the time he steps down William Hague will have been an MP for 26 years

Moving on: Hague told his 236,000 Twitter followers that it was time for him to go

Achievements: Hague spoke of his achievements during his time as Foreign Secretary in his message to his Twitter followers

Next step: Hague has been a key figure in the fight to end sexual violence in conflict

Plans: Hague wrote on Twitter that he would continue to campaign to end sexual violence in conflict. Last month the politician (centre) chaired a summit on the cause with actress Angelina Jolie (left), also attended by her partner Brad Pitt (right)

He will remain in the Cabinet, taking Mr Lansley’s old job as leader of the Commons and keeping his title of First Secretary of State, for the next nine months – but will then stand down as an MP.
The announcement came after Mr Cameron carried out a string of sackings in a series of face-to-face meetings in his private office in the Commons and later at Downing Street, in which he dismissed several of his oldest political allies.
Some, including 74-year-old Mr Clarke, a titan of Tory politics for four decades, jumped before they were pushed.

Tributes: David Cameron said he wanted to pay an 'enormous tribute' to Hague, as he confirmed the Foreign Secretary would be stepping down

Future role: Cameron said that Hague would continue to act as his de facto political deputy, as well as take on the role of Leader of the House of Commons

Rumours: Speculation over Hague's future appeared to begin with a tweet from Iain Dale, the LBC broadcaster who is regarded as extremely well-informed in Conservative circles

Rumours: Highly connected and respected Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft also added fuel to the rumours when he tweeted about Hague's possible departure

WHO'S OUT AND WHO COULD BE IN ? CAMERON'S CABINET RESHUFFLE

Out...
Cabinet veteran Kenneth Clarke
Foreign Secretary William Hague
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson
Attorney General Dominic Grieve
Welsh Secretary David Jones
Leader of the Commons Andrew Lansley
Universities minister David Willetts
Police minister Damian Green
International development minister Alan Duncan
Foreign Office minister Hugh Robertson
Environment minister Greg Barker
Northern Ireland minister Andrew Robathan
Chief Whip Sir George Young
Those tipped for promotion...
Elizabeth Truss
Esther McVey
Nicky Morgan
Former defence secretary Liam Fox
Stephen Crabb
Penny Mordaunt
Margot James
Amber Rudd
Harriett Baldwin

Other senior figures leaving the Government include universities minister David Willetts, police minister Damian Green, and international development minister Alan Duncan, who said he told Mr Cameron earlier this year of his intention to stand down.
In a striking break with the so-called ‘chumocracy’ around the Prime Minister, some of those in the small band who supported him when he launched his leadership bid – including Foreign Office minister Hugh Robertson, environment minister Greg Barker and Northern Ireland minister Andrew Robathan – were axed.
Last night there was frenzied speculation at Westminster over who will become Foreign Secretary, with Chancellor George Osborne and Home Secretary Theresa May ruled out by Government sources. MPs were tipping candidates including Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, Culture Secretary Sajid Javid or a surprise female candidate.

Farewell? Conservative veteran Ken Clarke waves to the cameras as he walked into Number 10 today

Employment minister Esther McVey, pictured in Downing Street with Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith today, is tipped for promotion

After visiting Farnborough Air Show, David Cameron rushed back to Downing Street to complete the shake-up of his team

Tory party chairman Grant Shapps was also seen in Downing Street , as was Hague - who will remain in the Cabinet, taking Mr Lansley’s old job as leader of the Commons and keeping his title of First Secretary of State, for the next nine months – but will then stand down as an MP

END OF AN ERA FOR ONE OF THE CONSERVATIVE'S BIGGEST BEASTS

Ken Clarke remains one of the Tories' best known figures, famous for his love of suede hush puppies, cigars, jazz - and the EU.

One of the few politicians to hold the posts of Chancellor, Home, Education and Health Secretary, he served in key roles for Margaret Thatcher and John Major.

He launched three failed bids to become Tory leader, before joining Mr Cameron's frontbench team in opposition and finally returning to the Cabinet in 2010.

When the coalition was formed he became Justice Secretary, angering Tory traditionalists who feared the pro-European was too soft on crime. In 2012 he took a roving brief as Minister without Portfolio.

His resignation from the Cabinet brings to an end a ministerial career which began in 1972 - when Mr Cameron was just five years old.

Despite being the son of a Nottinghamshire miner, he became a Tory at Cambridge - where he was president of the Union in 1963.

The 74-year-old became an MP in 1970, but it was not until 1988 that he was promoted to the Cabinet.

He has also courted controversy for his business interests, including a highly paid vice-chairmanship of British American Tobacco.

Mr Cameron said: ‘William Hague has been one of the leading lights of the Conservative Party for a generation, leading the party and serving in two cabinets.
'Not only has he been a first class Foreign Secretary – he has also been a close confidante, a wise counsellor and a great friend.
‘He will remain as First Secretary of State and my de facto political deputy in the run up to the election – and it is great to know that he will be a core part of the team working to ensure an outright Conservative victory at the next election.’
Several of those who were ousted put up desperate fights to survive. Mr Lansley, Mr Cameron’s boss when he was joined the Conservative Party as a researcher, is said to have irritated Downing Street by suggesting he had been promised the job of Britain’s next European Commissioner.
The Tory Right had launched a concerted push to save Mr Paterson, a staunch Eurosceptic Right-winger, in recent days.
Former Conservative Party chairman Lord Tebbit said his departure would be a serious blow to traditional Tory supporters, particularly in the countryside.
‘Owen Paterson is an extremely able minister who has handled a difficult brief very well,’ Lord Tebbit said:
‘He has very wide support in the countryside, which is an area we cannot afford to neglect.’
Lord Tebbit also questioned David Cameron’s decision to promote more women in order to make the Tories look more inclusive.
He said: ‘I take the very simple view that the Prime Minister should select the best possible people.
'They may or may not be women – that should not be the first consideration.
'When I go to see a doctor or a dentist I go on the basis of their professional reputation, not their gender. It should be no different for ministers.’