WILLIAM Hague has climbed down and offered Nigel Evans a better job after the Ribble Valley MP quit the Tory front bench over not being put into the Shadow Cabinet.

Mr Evans told his party leader that he was quitting the front bench because he had not been given a seat at the Tory top table as Welsh spokesman.

The move surprised fellow East Lancashire MPs such as Hyndburn Labour MP and government whip Greg Pope who said he was "astonished" at Mr Evans' move.

However, it was clearly a shock to Mr Hague as well. And yesterday he offered Mr Evans an enhanced role as Welsh spokesman, still outside the Shadow Cabinet, but with the added kudos of being one of three Tory party vice-chairmen.

In addition, he will be allowed to be a full member of the Shadow Cabinet Committee on Home and Constitutional Affairs and be given the opportunity to appoint a junior spokesman on Welsh affairs to support him.

Mr Evans said: "I am delighted with this new enhanced position. Through the committee chaired by Shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe, I will be able to ensure that Wales has a voice in the Shadow Cabinet."

Mr Evans has been lobbying for a Welsh presence in the Shadow Cabinet for some months and felt unable to continue when the constitutional brief was merged with Shadow Leader of the Commons Sir George Young's job and he was merely told he could continue as a run of the mill junior spokesman.

One Tory insider commented: "It was a high risk strategy for Nigel to resign, but it seems to have paid off - at least in the short term."

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