Elites are like elephants

William Hague knows an elephant when he sees one

By BBC News Online's political correspondent Nick Assinder.

When William Hague was asked to say what he meant by "liberal elites" he hesitated before declaring they were like elephants - you knew them when you saw them.

Later, aides at Conservative Central Office attempted to be more specific by identifying Labour Peers Baroness Jay, the leader of the upper house, Lord Irvine the Lord Chancellor and Lord Falconer the Cabinet Office minister.

These are highly privileged people who have taken advantage of just the advantages they now want to deny others, the Tories claimed.

And they suggested these elites were responsible for declining standards in schools and a culture that put bullies and criminals before their victims.

It is not the first time the Tories have attacked liberal culture and many trace it back to the 1960s which, they claim, emphasised personal indulgence and ignored responsibility.

Dirty word

Even Tony Blair, in his speech to the WI, rejected what he described as the "libertarianism of the 60s."

What has dismayed some, however, is that the notion of liberalism is now seen by many as a dirty word.

Instead of it being defined as open minded and tolerant it is seen as a form of political correctness, loved particularly by Islington socialists.

And Mr Hague has clearly hit a nerve by targeting the liberal elites which, he claims, operate at the heart of the Labour party. It also appears that Mr Hague may have taken inspiration from the US.

Both President Bush in 1992 and Senator Bob Dole in 1996 devoted much time to attacking Bill Clinton over liberal elites.

And Newt Gingrich also constantly attacked "lifestyle liberal elites" around the American president.

So, while Mr Blair might be trying to play down ministers' attacks on elitism, the Tory leader is clearly not about to let this one go.

He believes, with some justification, that the prime minister is now on the back foot over the whole elitism issue and is determined to press home his perceived advantage.