MP Owen Paterson in vow after axe from cabinet

The North Shropshire MP vowed to continue to serve his constituency and his country after being replaced as Environment Secretary by one of the new women in David Cameron's cabinet, Liz Truss.

He admitted that the last two days had been a rollercoaster ride but he said he would remain in government as a backbencher.

The former minister wrote to Mr Cameron saying he would be speaking up from the back benches.

Mr Paterson said his time in both opposition and in the government had given him huge experience.

"I spent 14 years in opposition, including three years as shadow Northern Ireland secretary and, once in government, two years at the real Northern Ireland secretary before my time at Defra," he said.

"I have a pretty clear idea of how this country should go in the future and will be speaking up from the back benches.

"I will continue to serve my constituency and my country as an MP."

Mr Paterson remained magnanimous saying: "I wish Liz Truss all the best in her new role."

He said the countryside and countryside issues remained a top priority for him as an MP.

"There are 12 million people who live in the countryside and I will continue to promote their interests."

In rebuilding his life after the loss of his post, Mr Paterson ensured that he would have a busy weekend in north Shropshire.

He said his new freedom meant he would have more time to devote to his constituency and said he was already able to now attend more events this weekend.

"I will now be able to attend a meeting about shared spaces in towns, something I would not have been able to do because of ministerial commitments. I am also looking forward to the official reopening of a new section of the Montgomery Canal."

It has been a dramatic year for Mr Paterson who had to have emergency surgery to mend a detached retina in his eye in February. He had to take a back seat because of the operation in the middle of the flooding crisis on the Somerset levels.

Some are blaming the floods and the badger cull for the MP's fall from cabinet.

But the speaker of Shropshire Council, Councillor David Lloyd said it was more about getting more women into cabinet.

He said: "I am very disappointed at Owen Paterson's exit from Cabinet as part of the gender balancing exercise. As Environment Secretary he tackled a string of urgent and controversial issues with energy and the added knowledge of the countryside.

"Leaving Cabinet means he can speak freely on issues of local concern and remain a significant voice in the European debate when it comes. He remains a relevant and respected figure in Westminster."

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