WILLIAM HAGUE is back in charge of the Conservative Party today after a five-year gap - as its leader David Cameron started a fortnight's paternity leave.

The MP for Richmond, in North Yorkshire, who quit the leadership after the Tories' disastrous 2001 election defeat, will stand in while Mr Cameron helps nurse his baby boy, born yesterday.

It means Mr Hague will once again go head-to-head with Tony Blair at Prime Minister's questions in the Commons today, reviving memories of their battles between 1997 and 2001.

The then-Tory leader was often praised for outwitting the Prime Minister at the despatch box - although those weekly victories failed to prevent his election thumping.

But Mr Hague, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, will hand over the reins at 6pm today, when he flies to Washington for a two-day visit designed to mend fences with President George Bush.

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis will take over while Mr Hague attempts to heal wounds opened by the Tories' "wobble" over support for the Iraq invasion.

Michael Howard, the last Conservative leader, was given a "don't bother coming" to Washington message by the Republicans - a rift Mr Hague is desperate to end.

Mr Hague was appointed senior shadow Cabinet member by David Cameron after his recall to the Tory front bench last year, in the absence of a proper deputy.

A Conservative spokesman said: "The position is in gift of the leader and Mr Cameron picked William. He is confident everything will go like clockwork."

Samantha Cameron gave birth to the couple's Valentine's Day baby by Caesarean at 11.55am. The boy, whose name was not revealed, weighed 7lb 13oz.

Mr Cameron rushed to his wife's side from a shadow Cabinet meeting after receiving a telephone call informing him that his wife was on her way to hospital.

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