WILLIAM Hague's first attempt to enter the world of Whitehall politics was blackballed by Margaret Thatcher, newly released papers reveal.

Mrs Thatcher had been among those cheering the future foreign secretary when, aged 16, he delivered a barnstorming speech which took the Conservative Party conference by storm.

However, she was less impressed when – as a 21-year-old Oxford graduate – he tried to secure a prestigious posting as special adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Papers released by the National Archives at Kew, west London, show she angrily blocked the move, denouncing it as a "gimmick" and an "embarrassment" to her government.

No 10 received the request for her approval for Mr Hague to act as an adviser to the Chancellor Sir Geoffrey Howe and Chief Secretary Leon Brittan in a letter from John Kerr, a senior Treasury official, dated March 17 1983.

"The Prime Minister will I am sure remember his 1977 Party Conference speech as a 16 year old schoolboy!" said Mr Kerr, no doubt hoping to gain her approval. The effect was entirely the opposite.

She scrawled across the letter: "No (triple underlined) – this is a gimmick and would be deeply resented by many who have financial-economic experience."

Instead, she endorsed the assessment of her private secretary Robin Butler, who noted: "It is a bit difficult to see what a 21-year-old will contribute as a special adviser in the Treasury."

A source close to Mr Hague made clear he bore no hard feelings, saying: "The Foreign Secretary thinks that Margaret Thatcher was, as usual, right."