Blast from past: Blair vs Hague

Prime Minister's Questions sketch
By Nick Assinder
BBC News political correspondent

Nostalgia just doesn't get more nostalgic than this - Tony Blair facing William Hague over the despatch box.

With Tory leader David Cameron off on paternity leave, it fell to the shadow foreign secretary to stand in at PMQs.

The anticipation of a return to the days when Mr Hague's standup routines regularly bested the prime minister was high.

Indeed there were even suspicions that Mr Blair might duck it and send his deputy John Prescott in to bat for him.

But on more sober reflection it was clear that this should be a no-lose for the prime minister, even if he lost the exchange (if you see what I mean).

Classic episode

If Mr Hague succeeded in wiping the floor with the PM there would be whispers about the fact that he had succeeded where Mr Cameron had failed last week, raising a question over Mr Cameron's abilities.

And, if Mr Blair had won then, well, he would have won.

Not to turn up would have simply looked like the prime minister was running scared of his old adversary.

So, anticipation of a classic episode of Commons soap was high. And, needless to say, it didn't quite live up to expectation.

Hague was back at the despatch box

Mr Hague showed he had lost none of his humour, pointing out, for example, that this was the first question time when all three parties were being represented by stand in leaders.

It took a moment for the penny to drop, but when it did, it went down well all sides.

And there was a smattering of other asides which reminded everyone of just how witty and spontaneous Mr Hague at his best can be.

Go soft

But Tony Blair didn't spend all those months facing Mr Hague without learning a few tricks - most notably that witty question time performances did nothing to help Mr Hague's leadership.

So he brushed aside the jokes saying that, while they were good, Mr Hague's judgement was lacking. Specifically it was his judgement to oppose government plans to outlaw the glorification of terrorism that was all to pot.

And this was the image Mr Blair wanted to come from this exchange - tough Tony versus weak William.

Here was the government making new laws to tackle the terror threat and the activities of people like Abu Hamza against the Tories who, he claimed, demanded tough action only to go soft on it when it came to a Commons vote.

It was all passion and disbelief that the Tories could even consider opposing such a law. It is a line the Tories don't enjoy and they looked uncomfortable.

But, enjoyable though it was, it wasn't quite the vintage clash some had been hoping for.

Perhaps nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

Meanwhile Lib Dem leadership contenders Ming Campbell and Simon Hughes both had their two penn'oth and both fared perfectly well.

But they were never going to compete with the main bout.

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