Some of his key aides, such as Sir Norman Fowler, now firmly back Mr Hague.

ECONOMIST: The Tory party

His original title was deputy prime minister and first secretary of state for environment, transport and the regions - "the only minister with a job title bigger than his vocabulary", according to Sir Norman Fowler.

BBC: The John Prescott story

The departure of her former boss, Michael Howard, along with Sir Norman Fowler and Gillian Shephard, emphasises that this is now Mr Hague's own team and not just a bunch of stragglers from John Major's defeated army.

ECONOMIST: Man overboard