What is highly likely is that at some time the still youthful backbencher will be given a senior shadow cabinet and, eventually, cabinet post.

BBC: Why they all love Hague

Critics of the president, both at home and abroad, see the shadow of Mr Bush senior on American foreign policy as well.

ECONOMIST: Working on the sceptics | The

The former British MP often treated senior Chinese officials as if they were shadow ministers sitting on the opposition benches.

CNN: The Shift of Power

One senior Tory who has admitted publicly to gay relationships when he was younger is Mr Portillo, whom Mr Hague made shadow chancellor this week (moving Francis Maude to foreign affairs).

ECONOMIST: The Tory leader