A LOCAL Conservative MP featured prominently in the slimmed-down Shadow Cabinet announced this week by new party leader Michael Howard.

David Curry, who represents Skipton and Ripon, was named as shadow secretary of state for local and devolved government affairs and immediately announced his intention to fight attempts by his opposite number, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, to create an elected regional assembly for Yorkshire.

Mr Curry said Mr Prescott's proposals did not represent proper devolution but were a token exercise which took government away from local people and involved costly reorganisation for no apparent benefit.

Mr Curry, a pro-European who has represented his constituency since 1987, served as local government minister under former prime minister John Major. He has been chairman of the House of Commons committee on farming and rural affairs since 2000.

William Hague, MP for Richmond and a former Conservative party leader, has been named by Mr Howard as one of a four-strong "advisory council" to campaign for the Tories as part of the new leader's front bench team.

Mr Hague will work alongside former Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke, Mr Major and recently deposed party leader Iain Duncan Smith.