Yeo becomes shadow farm minister as Jack quits

03 August 1998

Yeo becomes shadow farm minister as Jack quits

By FWi staff

FORMER environment minister Tim Yeo has been appointed Conservative Party agriculture spokesman following the surprise resignation of Michael Jack.

Mr Jack, who is MP for Fylde, Lancashire, resigned from the shadow cabinet during the weekend. He said the position of agriculture spokesman prevented him from taking on lucrative private-sector work needed to support his children through university.

“Tuition fees in higher education have not helped matters much, but I am sad to be leaving,” Mr Jack told The Sunday Telegraph.

Tim Yeo, the MP for Suffolk South, was forced to resign from John Majors Government four years ago after admitting he had an extra-marital affair.

Mr Yeo becomes the fourth Tory agriculture spokesman in little more than a year. David Curry replaced Douglas Hogg soon after last years general election. Mr Curry was succeeded by Mr Jack last November.