Theresa May 'lining up William Hague as deputy' in shake-up
WILLIAM Hague is being lined up as Theresa May’s new deputy if Damian Green leaves following a probe into his conduct, it is claimed.
Theresa May wants Lord Hague as her deputy
Mrs May is under intense pressure following two high-profile resignations from her Cabinet.
And she has begged Lord Hague to come to her aid in the event of a worsening crisis, The Sun reports.
It is understood the former Tory leader has been offering the Prime Minister counsel in recent weeks following her election disaster.
And he is now said to be the man she trusts most to take over as deputy should Mr Green go.
A source told the paper: “William is top of her wanted list.
"He’ll take some persuading but the PM won’t give up easily.”
The former Foreign Secretary is not thought to favour a return to the political frontline after standing down as an MP in 2015.
Sir Michael Fallon has already quit the Cabinet
But Mrs May is said to be desperate to persuade him back to her side.
It comes amid calls for an emergency reshuffle from the PM following weeks of chaos.
She has recently lost heavyweights Sir Michael Fallon as Defence Secretary and Priti Patel from the Cabinet.
And some Tory voices behind the scenes are urging her to shake things up following Philip Hammond’s Budget speech on Wednesday.
Theresa May: MPs must 'come together' to deliver Brexit
The Chancellor is expected to announce ambitious plans to build 300,000 homes a year as he looks to boost the housing market and the Government’s own fortunes.
Mr Hammond said fixing the housing market was a "crucial part" of ensuring millennials are not the first generation since the Black Death to be less prosperous than their parents.
It is part of a new Tory focus to appeal to younger voters and stop them falling for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour populism.
But allies of the Chancellor say a rift between himself and the PM has reached new lows.
Mrs May is said to have a “hostile attitude” towards him.