William Hague has stood down as Foreign Secretary and will stay in the cabinet as Leader of the Commons, Downing Street said, according to BBC News.

Hague is to leave Parliament at the 2015 general election after 26 years as MP for Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Senior ministers have told the BBC that the current Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond, will replace Hague.

"William Hague has been one of the leading lights of the Conservative Party for a generation, leading the party and serving in two cabinets," Prime Minister David Cameron said. "Not only has he been a first class foreign secretary - he has also been a close confidante, a wise counsellor and a great friend."

Hague said: "I am delighted to be able to serve as Leader of the House of Commons, and to be able to campaign for Conservative candidates across the country. I want to finish in frontline politics as I began - speaking in Parliament and campaigning among the voters. After the general election I will return to my writing, while still giving very active support to the Conservative Party and campaigning on international causes I believe in."