THERE were a few surprises yesterday as the new leader of the Conservative Party, Mr William Hague, announced the first round of appointments to his shadow cabinet. He gave key posts to his leadership opponents, with a top job for the leading Euro-sceptic, Mr John Redwood.
Conservative MPs spent the day anticipating Mr Hague's first move as leader after his convincing win in the leadership election on Thursday over the former chancellor, Mr Kenneth Clarke. The news for which they had all been waiting came late yesterday afternoon when four shadow cabinet posts were announced.
As many observers expected, Mr Hague rewarded his former leadership rivals, Mr Peter Lilley and Mr Michael Howard, for supporting him in the later stages of the hard-fought contest. Mr Lilley becomes shadow chancellor, while Mr Howard will take the post of shadow foreign secretary, a position he was anxious to have.
Mr Hague had promised that as leader he would heal his party's wounds, and his appointments to the shadow cabinet appear indeed to be making an attempt at reconciliation.
It was with this sentiment in mind, and the sure knowledge that ignoring his bitter rival Mr Redwood would have done him few favours in Opposition, that Mr Hague handed him the post of shadow trade and industry secretary.
A further sign that Mr Hague was intent on including "all parts of the party" in the shadow cabinet came with the appointment of the centre-left MP, Mr Stephen Dorrell, as the new shadow secretary for education and employment.
Earlier in the day, in a move that surprised even Lord Parkinson himself, Mr Hague announced that the former darling of Baroness Thatcher would be the new party chairman. Lord Parkinson, who was chairman for a period while Lady Thatcher was leader of the Conservative Party, expressed his astonishment at being offered the post again.
Standing outside Conservative Central Office yesterday, Lord Parkinson, who played a key role in the Tory election victory in 1983, said he was surprised by his appointment, which Mr Hague had discussed with him before the outcome of the leadership contest. Asked if his comeback signalled a victory for Thatcherite thinking among the Tories, Lord Parkinson replied that it was "totally misguided" to suggest that Lady Thatcher was somehow pulling the strings behind Mr Hague.
"I'm not charged with the task of burnishing the memory of the past. I'm charged with the task of drawing up plans about the future, with the help of a team over which I preside," he added.
Mr Hague hinted that Lord Parkinson's appointment might run for "a couple of years". This would indicate he will be given the task of co-ordinating the root-and-branch reform of the Tory party which many believe is necessary if it is to become a credible party to lead the country.
Last night, Mr Hague fulfilled one of his promises made during the leadership contest: to travel to Scotland on Day One. There he underlined his intention that there would be no "no-go zones" for the Tories.
While in Scotland, Mr Hague is expected to meet senior figures in the Scottish Conservative Party. One Tory source said Mr Hague's purpose was to make clear that he intended "to start the fight-back now in areas where at the moment we do not have MPs".
Other senior shadow cabinet posts are expected in the next few days, including the post of shadow Northern Ireland secretary.