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Nigel Evans: from 'only Tory in Swansea' to popular deputy speaker Nigel Evans: from 'only Tory in Swansea' to popular deputy speaker
(5 months later)
Nigel Evans is one of the more cheerful MPs and popular across the House of Commons, where he is carving out a respected role as one of three deputies to the Speaker, John Bercow.Nigel Evans is one of the more cheerful MPs and popular across the House of Commons, where he is carving out a respected role as one of three deputies to the Speaker, John Bercow.
Unlike some of his predecessors, who looked a tad grand as they walked round the Palace of Westminster in their formal uniform of morning suit and grey striped trousers, Evans is always happy to stop for a gossip with MPs and friends.Unlike some of his predecessors, who looked a tad grand as they walked round the Palace of Westminster in their formal uniform of morning suit and grey striped trousers, Evans is always happy to stop for a gossip with MPs and friends.
He won admiration in December 2010, a few months after his election as deputy speaker, when he announced he was gay, saying he was tired of "living a lie".He won admiration in December 2010, a few months after his election as deputy speaker, when he announced he was gay, saying he was tired of "living a lie".
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday on the eve of the launch of a parliamentary group to help MPs be open about their sexuality, Evans said a former Labour MP had threatened to expose him. Evans said he had struggled to be open about his sexuality after growing up in Swansea where his parents ran a newsagents.Speaking to the Mail on Sunday on the eve of the launch of a parliamentary group to help MPs be open about their sexuality, Evans said a former Labour MP had threatened to expose him. Evans said he had struggled to be open about his sexuality after growing up in Swansea where his parents ran a newsagents.
"With my background in south Wales, it was hard enough being a Tory, let alone being gay," he said. "It wasn't so much 'the only gay in the village' as the 'only Tory in Swansea'.""With my background in south Wales, it was hard enough being a Tory, let alone being gay," he said. "It wasn't so much 'the only gay in the village' as the 'only Tory in Swansea'."
Evans initially embarked on a political career in Wales, contesting Swansea West in 1987 and standing unsuccessfully against Labour's Kim Howells in the 1989 Pontypridd byelection. As Wales became increasingly less friendly terrain for the Tories, he moved across the border and fought a byelection in the rock-solid Tory seat Ribble Valley in 1991. Within a year he recaptured the seat, and he has held it ever since.Evans initially embarked on a political career in Wales, contesting Swansea West in 1987 and standing unsuccessfully against Labour's Kim Howells in the 1989 Pontypridd byelection. As Wales became increasingly less friendly terrain for the Tories, he moved across the border and fought a byelection in the rock-solid Tory seat Ribble Valley in 1991. Within a year he recaptured the seat, and he has held it ever since.
Evans made a reasonably quick ascent in parliament, becoming a parliamentary private secretary within a year of his election and ending up as PPS to William Hague as Welsh secretary in 1996.Evans made a reasonably quick ascent in parliament, becoming a parliamentary private secretary within a year of his election and ending up as PPS to William Hague as Welsh secretary in 1996.
It was his Welsh roots that gave Evans his break on to the frontbench after the Tory defeat at the 1997 election. John Major appointed him a spokesman for Wales, and in 2001 he was appointed shadow Wales secretary by Iain Duncan Smith, a post he held until 2003 when he returned to the backbenches.It was his Welsh roots that gave Evans his break on to the frontbench after the Tory defeat at the 1997 election. John Major appointed him a spokesman for Wales, and in 2001 he was appointed shadow Wales secretary by Iain Duncan Smith, a post he held until 2003 when he returned to the backbenches.
In a sign of his appeal to MPs of all opinions, Evans, 55, shares a flat with Brian Binley, 71, the traditionally minded Tory MP for Northampton South.In a sign of his appeal to MPs of all opinions, Evans, 55, shares a flat with Brian Binley, 71, the traditionally minded Tory MP for Northampton South.
Binley said: "Nigel is a good human being. He likes to tell people as a joke that I am his civil partner. I say if he keeps talking like that I'll become bloody uncivil and smack him around the face.Binley said: "Nigel is a good human being. He likes to tell people as a joke that I am his civil partner. I say if he keeps talking like that I'll become bloody uncivil and smack him around the face.
"We make good flatmates. We don't bother each other very much. We get on very well together. We are good friends.""We make good flatmates. We don't bother each other very much. We get on very well together. We are good friends."
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