William Hague has ruled out returning to the leadership of the Conservative Party.

The former Tory chief put an end to recent speculation on Sunday when he said he "never" wants the job again.

The Richmond MP said he no longer had the ambition that made him one of the youngest ever Cabinet ministers and party leaders in the 1990s.

Hague said he had "grown out" of his desire to lead the Tories.

"I think I can say never in the next 20 years," he told the BBC's Breakfast With Frost programme on Sunday.

"I think [in terms of] the party leadership I can say never actually.

"Would I go back into frontline politics at some stage? I don't know.

"I don't have the urge to do so at the moment. I think there are lots of other ways in which I could help the party."

Speculation

With party minds beginning to turn to who will lead the Tories after a likely general election defeat next year, speculation had centred on a possible return for the talented Hague, who is widely viewed has having taken the job at too early an age in 1997.

Following his resignation in the wake of the 2001 election defeat he returned to the backbenches but refused to comment on a possible return to the frontline beyond the course of this parliament.

Having made a series of recent media appearances to promote a new book, Hague, still only 44, was increasingly linked with a comeback.

But he stressed on Sunday that he felt "liberated" after leaving the "prison" of the leadership.

"I don't feel that hunger for political office that I suppose I used to feel and that I think you have to feel to be at the top in politics," he said.