ASHFORD MP Damian Green was the shock omission from the 12-strong shadow cabinet named by new Conservative leader Folkestone MP Michael Howard yesterday.

He lost his place as education spokesman in the reshuffle and given a more junior post as transport spokesman.

Although Mr Green had been regarded as one of the star performers under Iain Duncan Smith it is being speculated that he was dropped as the party is to change direction over university fees.

Mr Green had pledged that when elected the party would scrap tuition fees, a subject now to be reconsidered by Tim Yeo MP who takes over both education and health.

This week he was putting on a brave face and preparing for his new challenges.

In a brief statement he said: "I enjoyed my time as Shadow Education spokesman and am pleased with the policies I put in place with tuition fees and better school passports.

"Transport is a key issue for Ashford with exciting challenges ahead."

He will be concentrating on campaigning for better roads, improving the rail network and fighting threats of an airport at Cliffe.

In his final public appearance as shadow education spokesman he was in Ashford handing over computers to schools.