English: William Hague at the U.S. Deptartment of State (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is an excellent, MUST READ, article by the Telegraph’s Chief Political Correspondent, Peter Obone. Check it out!

Wake up, William Hague – change is in the air and we must respond

Personally, I agree with Peter Obone that William Hague’s performance has been unsatisfactory. I would cite different evidence than Peter Obone. I would refer to the UK’s reduced status in the World, since Hague has been Foreign Secretary; look to the evidence in relations with China, Russia, the US, the EU, and the Middle East. Peter Obone correctly cites that the Foreign Office has failed to take up its historical mantle, letting major decisions be taken by the Cabinet with the Foreign Office rubber-stamping matters. Certainly, David Cameron has made some huge foreign policy blunders. I agree with Peter Obone that a stronger, more effective Foreign Secretary would have resigned long ago.

Last night I was watching the BBC World Service TV, reporting on the terrorist incident in the shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya. I watched Kenya’s Interior Minister on TV thanking the foreign powers for helping with the crisis, including forensic investigation; I was expecting to hear Israel and the US mentioned and was a bit surprised at Germany. BUT I was stunned when the UK were not mentioned.

I am a keen follower of current affairs and genuinely believe that the World has entered a new period of multi-polar relations, with China and Russia exerting more influence. It seem that the period of US hegemony is over under President Obama’s leadership. With the ascendancy of China and Russia, along with the decline of the US, the UK and France are being squeezed. Meanwhile, Angela Merkel’s Germany is quietly increasing Germany’s strategic role.

William Hague seems to have been a political poodle, cowering to the US or stronger personalities at Cabinet.

However, I disagree with Peter Obone on William Haig’s cautious response to friendly overtures from Iran. I think that William Haig is right to look for further evidence in a genuine shift in Iranian policy.

Any thoughts?

Wake up, William Hague – change is in the air and we must respond -Peter Obone – Telegraph (dralfoldman.com)
Dr Alf’s Two Cents: The Tories will never triumph with five chairmen at the helm – Peter Obone – Telegraph (dralfoldman.com)
Dr Alf’s Two Cents: It is time for Lord Ashcroft and the Tory party to part company – Peter Obone – Telegraph (dralfoldman.com)
Soon, we are likely to need a braver chancellor than this one – Peter Obone – Telegraph (dralfoldman.com)
Wake up, William Hague – change is in the air and we must respond (telegraph.co.uk)
Brits caught in Kenya attack – Hague (bbc.co.uk)
Press release: 113 countries pledge action to end sexual violence in conflict #timetoact (gov.uk)
Syria: William Hague snubs Labour call to include Iran in peace talks (theguardian.com)
Iran’s foreign minister says yes to William Hague (independent.co.uk)
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague says Iran could play constructive role in Syria by supporting Geneva process, stopping its direct support to Assad regime – @lrozen (alakhtal.wordpress.com)

English: George Osborne MP, pictured speaking on the launch of the Conservative Party manifesto for the 2009 European Parliament elections, at Keele University. (805×1207 px, 283,711 bytes) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a thoughtful and hard-hitting article from Peter Obone, published in the Telegraph. It’s an EXCELLENT READ, in my view. Check it out!

via Soon, we are likely to need a braver chancellor than this one – Telegraph.

Let me give you a flavor:

We will soon need a chancellor with the will and the guts to make the big cuts in the major spending departments. That means targeting pensioners, tackling the National Health Service, shaving foreign aid and seriously cutting the welfare bill.

I agree with Peter Obone here. George Osborne is still playing politics and is very weak on real economic leadership for the UK; look at the results!

What about you, any thoughts?