Shadow Cabinet of William Hague

The Shadow Cabinet appointed by Conservative Party leader William Hague was the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet from 1997 to 2001. Following his initial appointments in June 1997, Hague reshuffled the Shadow Cabinet five times before his resignation as leader following defeat in the 2001 general election.

This article does not cite any sources. (December 2009)

Quick facts Hague Shadow Cabinet, Date formed ...

Hague Shadow Cabinet
Shadow cabinet of the United Kingdom
1997 – 2001

Date formed	19 June 1997
Date dissolved	13 September 2001
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Leader of the Opposition	William Hague
Deputy Leader of the Opposition	Peter Lilley (1998-1999) Michael Portillo (2000-2001)
Member party	Conservative Party
Status in legislature	Official Opposition 165 / 659 (25%) (1997) 166 / 659 (25%) (2001)
History
Election	1997 Conservative leadership election
Outgoing election	2001 Conservative Party leadership election
Legislature terms	52nd UK Parliament 53rd UK Parliament
Predecessor	Shadow Cabinet of John Major
Successor	Shadow Cabinet of Iain Duncan Smith

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Initial Shadow Cabinet

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June 1998 reshuffle

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Hague first reshuffled the Shadow Cabinet on 1 June 1998.

Junior Shadow Ministers

Changes from June 1997

Peter Lilley moves from Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer to Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party
Francis Maude moves from Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Sir Brian Mawhinney leaves the Shadow Cabinet
Sir Norman Fowler moves from Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to Shadow Home Secretary
Gillian Shephard moves from Shadow Leader of the House of Commons to Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Sir George Young moves from Shadow Secretary of State for Defence to Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
John Maples moves from Shadow Secretary of State for Health to Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Ann Widdecombe enters the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Health
Alastair Goodlad leaves the Shadow Cabinet
Peter Ainsworth enters the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Liam Fox enters the Shadow Cabinet as Constitutional Affairs spokesperson
Gary Streeter enters the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
David Curry leaves the Shadow Cabinet
Tim Yeo enters the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Michael Ancram becomes Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party. A few months later he succeeded Parkinson with his own successor not sitting in the Shadow Cabinet.
Stephen Dorrell leaves the Shadow Cabinet

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December 1998

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A minor Shadow Cabinet reshuffle was required on 2 December 1998, due to the sacking of Viscount Cranborne over the House of Lords Act 1999. Cranborne had been engaged in secret negotiations with the Labour Government over the issue of hereditary peers, without informing William Hague. This amendment (proposed by Bernard Weatherill for issues of formality, known as the Weatherill Amendment) allowed 92 hereditary peers to remain. The sacking of Cranborne led to a leadership crisis, with some Conservative peers resigning the party whip.