BURY South MP Ivan Lewis has been given a major promotion in the government reshuffle.
Mr Lewis is now just one step away from the Cabinet having been appointed to the prestigious position of Minister of State at the Foreign Office, working underneath Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
His responsibilities include the Middle East peace process, Iraq, Iran, UK/US relations, South East Asia, the Far East and counter terrorism.
Ivan denied there would be a conflict of interest in his involvement in the Middle East.
He said: "My responsibility for the Middle East peace process is particularly poignant. I have never hidden my pride at being Jewish or my support for the State of Israel’s right to exist free from terror and hostility.
"Equally, I have always supported a two-state solution which gives the Palestinians freedom, dignity and control over their own lives. I will be working hard with Middle Eastern leaders and President Obama to secure a lasting and meaningful Middle East peace."
Mr Lewis will now leave his post at the Department for International Development, an appointment which saw him travel to Africa to represent the government.
Ivan, who represents Prestwich, Whitefield, Radcliffe and Unsworth, has already started in his post at the Foreign Office and said: "I would first and foremost like to thank my constituents whose support has given me the chance to serve my country.
"In many ways this is a dream job for me and I will approach the challenges which lie ahead with humility and determination. As the recession has demonstrated along with the threats presented by climate change and terrorism we cannot cut ourselves off from the realities facing the world."
"What happens on the streets of Mumbai, Lahore and Kabul or in the money markets of New York and Tokyo directly affects the lives of people living in Prestwich, Radcliffe, Whitefield and Unsworth.
"While being a minister is an honour I have not and will never forget my top priority is to serve my constituents."
Showing comments 1 to 2 and replies | View All
robert caserta (14/06/2009 at 19:38)
Last week’s Advertiser featured over half a page (Page 2) of Labour propaganda designed to look as though it was
reporting a news event. In fact both articles concluded with political messages.
Then on the letters page you have D.Thomson of Clifton Road with the monthly sycophantic rant about Ivan Lewis.
Another letter provides a slightly more subtle message from a constituent praising Mr Lewis without explaining what he has actually achieved..
As long as it allows these regular insertions, the Advertiser is holding itself up to ridicule. Does it not remember that only a few months ago, it was revealed that the Redditch Standard had been printing letters for years from Jackie Smith’s husband under an assumed name?
The journalists on the newspaper may better advance their careers if they spend more time actively keeping an eye on our local MP rather than merely printing
his campaign message.
Steinbrock, Bury (17/06/2009 at 11:45)
I think the advertiser are protecting this Labour MP at all costs, it does annoy me seeing him every week with the paper slavishly reporting on non-stories.