BBC NEWS | Politics | Interview: Tim Yeo

BBC NEWS | Politics | Interview: Tim Yeo: "BBC NEWS
Interview: Tim Yeo
By Nick Assinder
Political Correspondent, BBC News website

Shadow environment and transport secretary Tim Yeo is in upbeat mood.


TIM YEO
Born: 20 March 1945 - son of the late Dr Kenneth John Yeo
Educated: Charterhouse, Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Family: Married with one son and one daughter
Job: Shadow Secretary of State for Environment and Transport

The Tory frontbencher is not prone to over-excitement. In his 21 years in the Commons he has enjoyed power, but also suffered the setbacks and disappointments which have marked the past seven years in opposition.

In power, he quietly and efficiently built a reputation as a good performer and safe pair of hands.

In opposition, he has worked in many of the frontbench jobs and under all three of the party's recent leaders.

But now, he believes that Michael Howard is offering the Tories the best chance since 1992 of winning a general election.

Tory problems

In an interview given before the tsunami disaster, he declared: 'I feel a much greater sense of excitement going into this election because it is possible for us to win it.

'The truth is whatever we said publicly in 2001 very few people thought we had a chance.

'And in 1997 we were at the fag end of long Tory government and we had a lot of problems in that government. (He resigned his own frontbench job after it was revealed he had fathered a child with a young Tory councillor).

'I have worked closely with Michael, with Iain Duncan Smith, with William Hague and I know we actually do have a chance of winning now which frankly I can't remember in my period in shadow cabinet ever really thinking under the other two.

'So I think for the first time since 1992 we go into an election with everything to play for.'

If that is really the case, isn't he dismayed the party appears stalled in the opinion polls. And who or wh"