After his resignation he retreated to the backbenches where his popularity grew. In 2005 leader David Cameron offered him the position of Shadow Foreign Secretary and Senior Member of the Shadow Cabinet.
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This led to infighting
and has been considered one of the reasons lost subsequent elections.

In 2001 Hague resigned as leader after the Conservatives only gained 1 seat in the General Election. He became the first leader to spend his entire tenure in opposition.

Photo credit: Amy Woodward

1999 saw an old foe reappear in the form of Micheal Portillo who had campaigned against Hague during the leadership election 2 years prior. Portillo had unexpectedly lost his seat at the general election but was elected in a by-election in Kensington.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVvW...

At 36 Hague had to rebuild the party after there worst election result in the 20th century. Thousands of pounds were spent on the ‘Listen to Britain’ campaign to try and modernise the party. Hague spent the next 4 years battling with Tony Blair during PMQs.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkbz...

In 1997 Labour won the general election in a landslide victory over the Conservatives. This caused then leader John Major to stand down triggering a leadership election. Hague was elected over much more experienced candidates including Kenneth Clarke.

Photo Credit: Amy Woodward

Lamont was sacked in 1993 so Hague moved to the Department of Social Security (DSS) and became the Parliamentary under-Secretary of State. In 1994 he become Minister of State for the DSS.
In 1995 he joined the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Wales.

Upon his election he was the youngest Conservative MP despite this he was invited to join the Government in 1990 serving as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont.

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