Hague Shadow Cabinet | |
|---|---|
 Shadow cabinet of the United Kingdom | |
| 1997 – 2001 | |
_(cropped).jpg) | |
| Date formed | 19 June 1997 |
| Date dissolved | 13 September 2001 |
| People and organisations | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Leader of the Opposition | William Hague |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition | Peter Lilley (1998-1999) Michael Portillo (2000-2001) |
| Member party | |
| Status in legislature | Official Opposition 165 / 659 (25%) (1997)166 / 659 (25%) (2001) |
| History | |
| Election(s) | 1997 Conservative leadership election |
| Outgoing election | 2001 Conservative Party leadership election |
| Legislature term(s) | 52nd UK Parliament 53rd UK Parliament |
| Predecessor | Shadow Cabinet of John Major |
| Successor | Shadow Cabinet of Iain Duncan Smith |
The Shadow Cabinet appointed by Conservative Party leader William Hague was the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet from 1997 to 2001. Following his initial appointments in June 1997, Hague reshuffled the Shadow Cabinet five times before his resignation as leader following defeat in the 2001 general election.
Hague first reshuffled the Shadow Cabinet on 1 June 1998.
A minor Shadow Cabinet reshuffle was required on 2 December 1998, due to the sacking of Viscount Cranborne over the House of Lords Act 1999. Cranborne had been engaged in secret negotiations with the Labour Government over the issue of hereditary peers, without informing William Hague. This amendment (proposed by Bernard Weatherill for issues of formality, known as the Weatherill Amendment) allowed 92 hereditary peers to remain. The sacking of Cranborne led to a leadership crisis, with some Conservative peers resigning the party whip.
Hague again reshuffled the Shadow Cabinet on 15 June 1999.
On 2 February 2000, Hague again reshuffled the Shadow Cabinet.
Hague's final Shadow Cabinet reshuffle occurred on 26 September 2000.
