No. he does suffer from a voice that grates, I'll give you that. he also suffers from having views that fail to coincide with mine.

However, he was, before returning to front bench, the highest paid after dinner speaker on the UK circuit and in the top 10 in the USA. There is a reason for that. Oratory. You don't have to be of any particular political persuasion to be erudite, clear speaking and lacking in waffle. he has, it, Tony Benn has it, Michael Foot, Winston Churchill, Enoch Powell and Jeremy Thorpe had it, (judging by those we are able to hear recording of.)

Now.. that is a bit of a mixed bunch, no messing. Enoch Powell will always be remembered for one speech, but at least it is being remembered for a speech, and as an orator, he can at least have some ironic posthumous satisfaction for that, even if his speech was ill judged and largely misconstrued.

Whilst poor Jeremy Thorpe, the guy no minister liked facing as he could use word play and logic chopping to devastating effect; he will be remembered not for his verbal delivery but for sucking off a bloke and then having the bloke's dog killed.

Hague? it appears the mental image most people recall is the 16 year old precocious brat at the Tory conference being given a microphone. Sad, but like Powell, the image of him is at least one of giving a speech, and as an orator, he will have to be contented with that.

Don't confuse skill with agreement. I recall watching Ronaldo and thinking there is, on his day, no better footballer. The fact I would have preferred him on the losing side that day is irrelevant.