Region’s MPs promoted on both sides of the Commons chamber

A NUMBER of Yorkshire MPs have been promoted after both the coalition and Labour reshuffled their teams in readiness for the run-in to the General Election.
Esther McVey, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Disabled People, arrives at 10 Downing StreetEsther McVey, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Disabled People, arrives at 10 Downing Street
Esther McVey, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Disabled People, arrives at 10 Downing Street

Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves was one of the big winners to become the new Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, a job taken from Liam Byrne who became the focus of repeated coalition attacks over the note he left on his Treasury desk warning “there is no money”.

Last night Ms Reeves, who was promoted by Ed Miliband from Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said she was “honoured” to be given the job.

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Wakefield MP Mary Creagh, formerly shadowing Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, takes over transport.

Esther McVey, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Disabled People, arrives at 10 Downing StreetEsther McVey, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Disabled People, arrives at 10 Downing Street
Esther McVey, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Disabled People, arrives at 10 Downing Street

Barnsley East MP Michael Dugher a former spokesman for Gordon Brown, was promoted to Shadow Cabinet Office Minister and Jon Trickett, MP for Hemsworth, becomes Labour vice-chairman.

At a time when Yorkshire councils are pressing for more control over transport spending there will be welcome for Scarborough and Whitby Tory MP Robert Goodwill’s appointment to the Department for Transport.

His was one of a raft of changes made by David Cameron and Nick Clegg which focused on the junior ministerial ranks.

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Keighley MP Kris Hopkins has been made a junior Local Government Minister.

He said: “I was very humbled when the Prime Minister asked me to take on this role, and now look forward to the challenges ahead.

“As a former leader of Bradford Council and someone who cut his political teeth in local government, I have a huge regard for the work elected representatives and officers at all levels do on behalf of the communities they serve.”

A new Minister will be overseeing the Government’s role in the Tour de France Grand Départ which Yorkshire hosts next year. Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has moved to the Foreign Office and is replaced by Maidstone MP Helen Grant.

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There will be relief in Yorkshire that Greg Clark has retained his “cities” brief after moving from the Treasury to the Cabinet Office.

He has played a key role in the negotiation of “city deals” that have moved powers and money from Whitehall to West and South Yorkshire with discussions also ongoing over a similar deal for the Humber.

He is seen as one of the coalition Ministers who is genuinely enthusiastic about devolution to the regions.

David Cameron left the 
Conservative members of the Cabinet unchanged – but handed promotions to women MPs including former television presenter Esther McVey and Nicky Morgan.

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Ms McVey has been pushed up the ranks at the Department for Work and Pensions to become Employment Minister, while Ms Morgan goes from assistant whip to Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

Anna Soubry has been moved sideways from her junior ministerial role in the Department of Health to become the first female MP to be a Minister at the Ministry of Defence.

Allies of Chancellor George Osborne also fared well, with Sajid Javid made Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Matthew Hancock becoming Skills and Enterprise minister.

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight will leave the Whips’ Office just over a year after he was handed the role.

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The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs saw a shake-up with George Eustice – Mr Cameron’s former press secretary and a prominent EU rebel – appointed Environment Minister – the expense of Richard Benyon and Lib Dem David Heath sacked in favour of Dan Rogerson.

Tory Ministers who lost their jobs included Mark Hoban, Mark Prisk, Richard Benyon, and Alistair Burt.

Last night Mr Cameron said the reshuffle had been an opportunity to bring forward some fresh talent.

“What you do is refresh the team and I’ve got a talented bunch of MPs and it’s right some of them should be serving in the Government,” he said.

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“There was a mixture of people from all sorts of backgrounds and walks of life. The main thing is are they qualified to do the job and I think they will prove that.”

Against expectations, Andy Burnham will continue as Shadow Health Secretary on the Labour benches where Yorkshire MPs Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper are retained as Shadow Chancellor and Shadow Home Secretary.

Fellow Yorkshire MPs Rosie Winterton. Caroline Flint and Hilary Benn also keep their Shadow Cabinet posts.

Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy is shifted to oversee international development policy, with Vernon Coaker taking over defence.

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Stephen Twigg was ejected from education in favour of TV historian Tristram Hunt.

Former Shipley MP Chris Leslie, who now represents Nottingham East, is promoted from shadow financial secretary to the Treasury to Shadow Chief Secretary.