Tim Yeo
| Tim Yeo MP | |
|---|---|
| Shadow Environment and Transport Secretary | |
| In office 2004–2005 |
|
| Leader | Michael Howard |
| Shadow Education and Health Secretary | |
| In office 2003–2004 |
|
| Leader | Michael Howard |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | |
| In office 2001–2002 |
|
| Leader | Iain Duncan Smith |
| Member of Parliament for South Suffolk |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 9 June 1983 |
|
| Preceded by | Constituency Created |
| Majority | 8,689 (16.9%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 March 1945 Lewisham, London, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Diane Helen Pickard |
| Alma mater | Emmanuel College, Cambridge |
Timothy Stephen Kenneth Yeo (born 20 March 1945) is an English Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for South Suffolk and the current Chairman of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
He was educated at Charterhouse School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he gained an MA in History in 1968.
From 1970-3, he was assistant treasurer of Bankers Trust Company, then from 1975–86, he was Director of Worcester Engineering Company. From 1980-3, he was Chief Executive of the Spastics Society (now called Scope).
[edit] Parliamentary career
Yeo contested Bedwelty in the February 1974 General Election before being elected as MP for South Suffolk in 1983.
Yeo became PPS to Douglas Hurd in 1988. In 1992, he was appointed Minister for the Environment and Countryside in John Major's government, but was forced to resign after a scandal involving his so-called 'love child' with a Tory councillor, Julia Stent,[1] who was born on 8 July 1993. Three years earlier, Yeo said to the branch of Relate in his constituency, "It is in everyone's interests to reduce broken families and the number of single parents. I have seen from my own constituency the consequences of marital breakdown."[2]
The story broke on Boxing Day during a quiet news period and intense coverage was given to the scandal. Yeo resigned on 5 January 1994.
[edit] In Opposition
After the Conservative landslide defeat in the 1997 General Election, new leader William Hague appointed him spokesman on Environment, Transport and the Regions. Yeo was a member of the shadow cabinet under Iain Duncan Smith as shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and in 2003 was made Shadow Education and Health Secretary[3]by new leader Michael Howard, holding two positions with responsibility for both schools and hospitals. In 2004 he moved to Environment and Transport. During this period, his Chief of Staff was Nick Hurd, son of Douglas Hurd and since the 2005 general election the MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner.
He resigned from the shadow cabinet shortly after the 2005 election, saying he wished to be free to play a role in rethinking the Conservative party's future. On 27 August, Yeo ruled himself out of the ensuing Conservative leadership election following Howard's resignation as party leader, announcing his backing for former Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke. This contest was won by the then Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills, David Cameron.
[edit] Business Interests
Yeo is chairman of Univent plc, Chairman of TMO Renewables and non-executive chairman of Eco City Vehicles plc and AFC Energy plc.
He writes articles for Golf Weekly and Country Life magazines and, occasionally, the Financial Times.
He occupies a seat on the board of Eurotunnel.[2]
[edit] Personal life
He married Diane Helen Pickard on March 30, 1970 in Greenwich. They have a son, the portrait painter Jonathan Yeo, and a daughter.
Yeo has two further daughters. He fathered the first daughter in 1967 when he was still a student at Cambridge University, and put her up for adoption[4] The second daughter was born in 1993 through his extra-marital affair with Julia Stent.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ A history of Christmas scandal past, BBC, December 22, 1998
- ^ The Guardian - 27 December 1993
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/after-36-years-yeo-asks-the-daughter-he-gave-away-to-contact-him-735586.html
- ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-yeo-resignation-local-party-ousts-yeo-whips-blame-mp-for-failing-to-reconcile-constituency-to-his-problems-after-fathering-child-in-an-affair-1405166.html
[edit] External links
- Tim Yeo MP official constituency website
- Profile at the Conservative Party
- Suffolk Conservatives
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
- Current session contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Electoral history and profile at The Guardian
- Voting record at PublicWhip.org
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou.com
- Profile at Westminster Parliamentary Record
- Profile at BBC News Democracy Live
- Articles authored at Journalisted
[edit] Offices held
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Constituency Created |
Member of Parliament for South Suffolk 1983–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Liam Fox |
Shadow Secretary of State for Health 2003 – 2004 |
Succeeded by Andrew Lansley |
