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09/05/2005
Senior Conservatives quit Shadow Cabinet
Senior Conservatives Nicolas Soames and Tim Yeo have announced plans to leave the Shadow Cabinet.
The announcement follows party leader Michael Howard’s decision to stand down shortly as party leader.
Mr Yeo, the shadow environment and transport secretary, said that he wanted to concentrate on “non-traditional” issues, such as the environment. Mr Soames, the shadow defence secretary, indicated that he wanted to be able to comment on issues such as Europe and expressed a desire to return to the backbenches, saying, “Parliament is so much more important now”.
It has been reported that Mr Soames is keen to join the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, although he has rubbished claims that he would want Sir Michael Spicer’s job as chairman of the committee. Mr Soames has also denied that he would be interested in the leadership of the party. However, Mr Yeo has seemed to hint that he would be interested in the position.
Explaining his decision to quit the shadow cabinet, Mr Yeo said that it would be wrong to speak out on issues while remaining on the party’s frontbench. He also said that while issues such as immigration, taxation and crime had proved popular with voters, the Conservatives election campaign had focused too much on core voters’ issues at the expense of other issues such as the environment.
Another Tory frontbencher, John Redwood, has also indicated that he would like to be involved in a general debate about politics in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme. However, he refused to say whether or not he would be entering a race for the party leadership. He said: “By all means talk to me when we have a leadership election up and running or in prospect. That is not the current position.”
There has also been speculation that Conservative deputy leader Michael Ancram is planning to quite the Shadow Cabinet.
(KMcA/GB)
The announcement follows party leader Michael Howard’s decision to stand down shortly as party leader.
Mr Yeo, the shadow environment and transport secretary, said that he wanted to concentrate on “non-traditional” issues, such as the environment. Mr Soames, the shadow defence secretary, indicated that he wanted to be able to comment on issues such as Europe and expressed a desire to return to the backbenches, saying, “Parliament is so much more important now”.
It has been reported that Mr Soames is keen to join the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, although he has rubbished claims that he would want Sir Michael Spicer’s job as chairman of the committee. Mr Soames has also denied that he would be interested in the leadership of the party. However, Mr Yeo has seemed to hint that he would be interested in the position.
Explaining his decision to quit the shadow cabinet, Mr Yeo said that it would be wrong to speak out on issues while remaining on the party’s frontbench. He also said that while issues such as immigration, taxation and crime had proved popular with voters, the Conservatives election campaign had focused too much on core voters’ issues at the expense of other issues such as the environment.
Another Tory frontbencher, John Redwood, has also indicated that he would like to be involved in a general debate about politics in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme. However, he refused to say whether or not he would be entering a race for the party leadership. He said: “By all means talk to me when we have a leadership election up and running or in prospect. That is not the current position.”
There has also been speculation that Conservative deputy leader Michael Ancram is planning to quite the Shadow Cabinet.
(KMcA/GB)
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