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| Nigel Evans: Ribble Valley constituents rally round accused MP | Nigel Evans: Ribble Valley constituents rally round accused MP |
| (8 days 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. 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. | 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. |
| 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 was wearing a blue rosette. He had tried to fit in; perhaps too hard. On one occasion, farmers scoffed at him when he turned up at an auction wearing designer Wellingtons. | 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 was wearing a blue rosette. He had tried to fit in; perhaps too hard. On one occasion, farmers scoffed at him when he turned up at an auction wearing 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. 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. | 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. |
| 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. His simple stone-built cottage is beside the village pub, the Swan With Two Necks. | 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. His simple stone-built cottage is beside the village pub, the Swan With Two Necks. |
| Michael Ranson, chairman of the Ribble Valley Conservative Association, said people in the constituency were "completely shell-shocked" at the news of his arrest. "He is a very popular MP and a very good constituency MP. He's given assistance to a lot of his constituents over many years," he told Sky News. | Michael Ranson, chairman of the Ribble Valley Conservative Association, said people in the constituency were "completely shell-shocked" at the news of his arrest. "He is a very popular MP and a very good constituency MP. He's given assistance to a lot of his constituents over many years," he told Sky News. |
| Those locals who had heard or seen Evans's firm rebuttal of the allegations against him were prepared to believe him. "He's not stupid," said one. "And he's always been very discreet about his private life. I wish him well." | Those locals who had heard or seen Evans's firm rebuttal of the allegations against him were prepared to believe him. "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. "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. 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." | 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." 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." |
| 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." While sceptical about the possible motives of Evans's accusers, Derbyshire could not resist a small dig at his MP. | 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's 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. "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." | 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." |
| After a pint in the Swan With Two Necks, Evans emerged to talk to the media and to pay tribute to friends and colleagues for their "amazing and overwhelming" support. | After a pint in the Swan With Two Necks, Evans emerged to talk to the media and to pay tribute to friends and colleagues for their "amazing and overwhelming" support. |
| He also paid tribute to his "wonderful" village and for all the messages of support he had received on Facebook. | He also paid tribute to his "wonderful" village and for all the messages of support he had received on Facebook. |
| He added: "I am so grateful and it's that support that is really helping me get through this. I would just like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, everyone who has sent me a message." | He added: "I am so grateful and it's that support that is really helping me get through this. I would just like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, everyone who has sent me a message." |
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