William Hague says he will accept outcome of devolution referendums

Hear his first major interview since taking over the Tory party, on BBC Radio's The World This Weekend - Dur.15'06

Tories Would Accept Devolution

Mr Hague, in his first substantial interview since taking the reins of the defeated Conservative party, claimed his MPs had learned to listen.

Though still staunch opponents of the Government's devolution proposals, the Tories, if returned to power, would respect the wishes of the public expressed in the forthcoming referendums.

"We have demonstrated the value of listening in the past few weeks," said Mr Hague. We have changed our approach towards a Mayor for London - that has developed on the back of listening to a lot of views around London ...

"In Scotland and Wales we believe it would be a fundamental mistake to set up Parliaments which could break up the United Kingdom.

"If they vote for it in the referendums then they will get a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly.

"We will have to respect that in the future," he told BBC Radio's The World This Weekend.

Mr Hague continued: "If the public approve such ideas in the referendums then we are not going to be able to say - we might not want to say - well we can get rid of these things in a few years time."

The referendums would be the guage of public opinion, he said, stressing that the outcome of the polls should not be taken for granted.

"People shouldn't make a presumption about public opinion but if it is clearly stated we will certainly listen to it," he said.

The Conservatives lost all their parliamentary seats in Scotland and Wales at the last general election.

Scots Nationalists back devolution proposals