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| Nigel Evans: Ribble Valley constituents rally round accused MP | Nigel Evans: Ribble Valley constituents rally round accused MP |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| On the day three years ago that Nigel Evans announced he was gay, there was barely a ripple of interest in his Ribble Valley constituency. | On the day three years ago that Nigel Evans announced he was gay, there was barely a ripple of interest in his Ribble Valley constituency. |
| The MP's quiet take on his homosexuality was well known locally. It didn't matter that he was gay. It was just an accepted fact. Move on, people thought. | The MP's quiet take on his homosexuality was well known locally. It didn't matter that he was gay. It was just an accepted fact. Move on, people thought. |
| It was not always so for the newsagents' son from Swansea. Evans, now 55, was initially resented when the Conservatives parachuted him into a constituency where it is said a pig could win an election, as long as it had a blue rosette. | It was not always so for the newsagents' son from Swansea. Evans, now 55, was initially resented when the Conservatives parachuted him into a constituency where it is said a pig could win an election, as long as it had a blue rosette. |
| He had tried to fit in; perhaps too hard. On one occasion, for example, local farmers scoffed at him when he turned up at an auction wearing a pair of designer Wellingtons. | He had tried to fit in; perhaps too hard. On one occasion, for example, local farmers scoffed at him when he turned up at an auction wearing a pair of designer Wellingtons. |
| There was also the issue of his "girlfriend", a young party worker those in the Westminster hierarchy thought might help him win over the tweed and blue rinse bedrock of the constituency. | There was also the issue of his "girlfriend", a young party worker those in the Westminster hierarchy thought might help him win over the tweed and blue rinse bedrock of the constituency. |
| Despite their initial reserve, locals gradually took to him, ignoring the Welsh lilt in his voice as best they could, and – after one false start in 1991 – elected him as their MP the following year. | Despite their initial reserve, locals gradually took to him, ignoring the Welsh lilt in his voice as best they could, and – after one false start in 1991 – elected him as their MP the following year. |
| In the years since then he has endeared himself as a jovial, enthusiastic and capable MP who likes a pint and isn't averse to sharing a number of them with his constituents. | In the years since then he has endeared himself as a jovial, enthusiastic and capable MP who likes a pint and isn't averse to sharing a number of them with his constituents. |
| At the New Inn in Clitheroe, he is still lauded for having helped a former landlord, Big Al, stand up for real ale against the might of its owners, Enterprise Inns. | At the New Inn in Clitheroe, he is still lauded for having helped a former landlord, Big Al, stand up for real ale against the might of its owners, Enterprise Inns. |
| Paul Derbyshire, 47, a music promoter, said: "It's true you could put a pig in this town and get it elected as a Tory MP, but we'll give him credit for that." | Paul Derbyshire, 47, a music promoter, said: "It's true you could put a pig in this town and get it elected as a Tory MP, but we'll give him credit for that." |
| While sceptical about the possible motives of Evans' accusers, Derbyshire could not resist a small dig at his MP. | While sceptical about the possible motives of Evans' accusers, Derbyshire could not resist a small dig at his MP. |
| "He's well known as a career politician who goes with the wind," he said. "And we know he doesn't give a damn about us really. It's always been clear he's in it for himself." | "He's well known as a career politician who goes with the wind," he said. "And we know he doesn't give a damn about us really. It's always been clear he's in it for himself." |
| Outside the pub, Denise Laurence-Beard, 57, a careers teacher, was racing up the hill to deal with the aftermath of the town's weekend jazz festival. | Outside the pub, Denise Laurence-Beard, 57, a careers teacher, was racing up the hill to deal with the aftermath of the town's weekend jazz festival. |
| "I vote Lib Dem because Labour is a wasted vote here, but for a Tory I have to say he's a great MP. He turns up to events, he's acceptable, and he's very responsive when ever there's a local issue. And he always supports the beer festival." | "I vote Lib Dem because Labour is a wasted vote here, but for a Tory I have to say he's a great MP. He turns up to events, he's acceptable, and he's very responsive when ever there's a local issue. And he always supports the beer festival." |
| Those who had heard or seen Evans' firm rebuttal of the allegations against him appeared perfectly prepared to accept the plausibility of his words. | Those who had heard or seen Evans' firm rebuttal of the allegations against him appeared perfectly prepared to accept the plausibility of his words. |
| "He's not stupid," said one. "And he's always been very discreet about his private life. I wish him well." | "He's not stupid," said one. "And he's always been very discreet about his private life. I wish him well." |
| Shirley Holden, 86, a retired medical receptionist, had just come from church. "I hope he's going to be alright, because he's a lovely, caring man," she said. | Shirley Holden, 86, a retired medical receptionist, had just come from church. "I hope he's going to be alright, because he's a lovely, caring man," she said. |
| "Some of the ladies from church have met him, and we've always found him to be very pleasant. So we were all quite shocked to hear what he was being accused of." | "Some of the ladies from church have met him, and we've always found him to be very pleasant. So we were all quite shocked to hear what he was being accused of." |
| In WH Smith a shopper said: "It's too easy these days to say that so-and-so's guilty. | In WH Smith a shopper said: "It's too easy these days to say that so-and-so's guilty. |
| "I think people round here will continue to support him and see what comes of it all. At the moment he's not even be charged – and it may stay that way." | "I think people round here will continue to support him and see what comes of it all. At the moment he's not even be charged – and it may stay that way." |
| Evans is a popular figure in Pendleton, where he has a simple stone-built cottage beside the village pub, the Swan With Two Necks. But staff were maintaining a strict silence – even though their only utterances would have been positive. | Evans is a popular figure in Pendleton, where he has a simple stone-built cottage beside the village pub, the Swan With Two Necks. But staff were maintaining a strict silence – even though their only utterances would have been positive. |
| "I've been told to say nothing," said the landlady. | "I've been told to say nothing," said the landlady. |
| Evans posted a simple Facebook message to his supporters. It read: "Thanks for the amazing, overwhelming support at this difficult time." | Evans posted a simple Facebook message to his supporters. It read: "Thanks for the amazing, overwhelming support at this difficult time." |
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