On This Day 2024: Labour MPs from the North East promoted

It marked a significant development as Sir Keir Starmer continued to appoint MPs to various roles two weeks after becoming Prime Minister.

Blaydon and Consett MP Liz Twist was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Sir Keir Starmer, indicating her close working relationship with the Prime Minister.

She expressed her enthusiasm on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “It’s great to have been asked to serve as PPS to the Prime Minister.

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to play a part in delivering our Labour programme for Change across the country and in Blaydon and Consett.”

Twist had previously served as MP for Blaydon before the constituency underwent boundary remapping, which incorporated part of the former North West Durham seat.

In addition, Sir Keir appointed his long-time friend and former MP for Darlington, Baroness Jenny Chapman, as a junior Foreign Office minister.

Baroness Chapman had chaired Sir Keir’s campaign for the Labour leadership in 2020 and later served as his political secretary, despite losing her seat in the 2019 election.

Parliamentary newcomers, Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor MP Alan Strickland and Cramlington and Killingworth MP Emma Foody, also received appointments as Parliamentary Private Secretaries in the Department for Education.

Mr Strickland shared on X, “Honoured to be appointed a Parliamentary Private Secretary to help Bridget Phillipson and her team deliver Labour’s ambitious agenda.”

Ms Foody added, “Delighted to be joining Bridget’s brilliant education team.

“A core mission of this Labour government is to break down the barriers to opportunity, and I’m looking forward to playing my part.”

[From The Northern Echo of July 20, 2024]