No comment - says Greg

The 38 year-old father-of-three who has represented Bexhill and Battle since 2001 recently separated from his wife Celeste.

In yesterday's editions of papers including the Daily Mirror, Daily Telegraph, Sun and Daily Mail he was remaining tight-lipped about their claims that he had left the marital home at Peasmarsh to live with another man.

He said: "It is a private matter. We separated in July. We are on very good terms."

When asked about the allegations he repeated: "It is a private matter."

References to Mr Barker's 14-year marriage have recently been removed from his website.

Yesterday he deferred a press photo-call in Bexhill planned today to publicise the need for householders to help reduce carbon emissions and fossil fuel usage by installing solar panels.

GREGORY Barker was first elected to the Bexhill and Battle seat at the June 2001 General Election, holding former local MP Charles Wardle's Conservative seat with a 10,503 majority.

The previous March he had faced a constituency party no-confidence motion after claims that he exaggerated his business career in his prospectus.

The motion was thrown out by a crowded meeting at Battle.

At the May 2005 General Election he was returned with his majority increased to 13,449.

He had been appointed to the Opposition front bench as a Conservative whip in November 2003 but resigned to join David Cameron's leadership campaign.

The newly-elected Tory leader appointed him Shadow Environment Minister last December.

Gregory Barker was born and raised in Sussex and educated at Steyning Grammar School and Lancing College. He graduated in History, Economic and Political History and Politics from London University.

In 10 years in the City of London, he worked for the Centre For Policy Studies and as an analyst for stockbrokers Gerrard Vivian Gray and became a corporate finance director of the Australian-owned International Pacific Securities, specialising in cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

In 1997 he became an associate partner of public relations firm Brunswick Group Ltd. and the following year head of international investor relations for a major Russian oil company.

He returned to the UK in May 2000 to continue as a director of Bartlett Scott Edgar, the recruitment advertising business of which he had helped lead a management buy-out in 1998.