2001 United Kingdom general election previous autumn had shown the first Tory lead (though only by a narrow margin) in the opinion polls for eight years as they benefited from the public anger towards the government over the fuel protests which had led to a severe shortage of motor fuel. By the end of 2000, however, the dispute had been solved and Labour were firmly back in the lead of the opinion polls. In total, a mere 29 parliamentary seats changed hands at the 2001 Election. One of the more noted events of a quiet campaign was when countryside protester Craig Evans threw an egg
John Evans, Baron Evans of Parkside served as MP for the new St Helens North constituency, which partially replaced Newton, until he stood down at the 1997 election, being succeeded by David Watts. On 10 June 1997 he was created a life peer as Baron Evans of Parkside, of St Helens in the County of Merseyside. Evans also served as a member of the European Parliament, from 1975 until 1978. John Evans, Baron Evans of Parkside John Evans, Baron Evans of Parkside (19 October 1930, Belfast – 5 March 2016, London) was a British politician who was a Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP). A former