The Hague Affair

This so-called story is fast becoming an ideal case study for any student of politcs and the British press. Neither party comes out of it looking especially good. I’m sure James is correct: the press wins (or loses, if that’s how you view it) either way. If Hague ignores the innuendo then it’s fodder for bloggers and diarists (and eventually columnists) and if he addresses the matter then that means that it’s “officially” a story fit for public discussion. Heads gossip wins, tails Hague loses.

If the rumours about Hague’s relationship with his young and now-former SpAd were true then, yes indeed, you’d have a scandal that would cost the Foreign Secretary his job. But as best one can see there’s no evidence that there’s any truth to the rumours at all. One might as well hint darkly at Hague’s fondness for torturing kittens since there seems to be precious little less substance* to that idea than there is behind the whispering about his relationship with young Mr Myers.