IMMIGRATION minister Phil Woolas has been appointed regional minister for the north west.
The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP will undertake this role alongside his responsibilities as immigration minister.
He said: "I am honoured to have been appointed.
"I was brought up in Burnley, went to school and college in Nelson, university in Manchester, my family live in Cumbria and I represent Oldham. I have strong links to the region and a great affection for it and see it as my job to champion the region in Whitehall and Europe.
"The north west region is the engine room of the British economy and it is leading us out of recession. The opportunity to redress the inequalities with the south is something I have devoted my political life to."
He has previously served as environment minister and local government minister.
Phil Woolas succeeds Beverley Hughes, MP for Stretford and Urmston, who was minister for the north west until last month.
Denton and Reddish Labour MP Andrew Gwynne has been promoted to advise the government on schools and families.
He is taking over as parliamentary private secretary to Ed Balls, the children, schools and families secretary and Brown loyalist.
Mr Gwynne will ensure government legislation and business proceeds smoothly through the Commons.
Mr Gwynne, who is father of a young family, said: "I'm delighted to have been given such a position of responsibility. This department - dealing with children, schools and families - is hugely important."
"As the father of a young family I know how important school education to parents everywhere and to the development of young children.
"I want to make sure that this government continues to deliver the best in education."
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The appointment of a Buffoon by a Buffoon.
What's a "Brown loyalist"? Is it what we used to call a "brown noser"?
Well, if he was previously in charge of immigration, he certainly did a brilliant job.
I wonder what he do for the North West.
How does he stand on expenses? Do we know?
Fools led by donkeys.........enough said.
regional mister immigration minister and oldham mp what i want to know is does he get a seperate wage for each job as they are running side by side
When the going gets tough the minister in charge gets another job, typical government management, another ploy to foist regional government upon us.Just hope he will getthe BBC to move here and the civil servants who have all got use to their London weighting allowance.They should all be reminded that London is now the Disneyland of the foreign and British rich and famous, complete with their aupairs and nannies not were work is done.
even more expenses he can claim,the North west doesn't need a Minister as there are already too many greedy parasitical MP's in the region. What is he actually suppose to do as Minister for the North West apart from talk tripe on TV,