A RUNCORN East MP has been made a shadow minister in the latest Labour front bench reshuffle.

Weaver Vale MP, Mike Amesbury, will be joining the party’s department for levelling up, housing, and communities, reporting directly to deputy leader and shadow secretary of state for levelling up, Angela Rayner.

Mike was elected to parliament in June 2017, and has previously served as shadow employment minister, shadow housing minister, and shadow minister for local government.

His new role as shadow minister for building safety and homelessness means he'll have a key role in policy making within the department, though it does not come with a seat in Keir Starmer's shadow cabinet. 

The 54-year-old said he is ‘delighted’ with his appointment, adding: “I'm honoured to be returning to the shadow levelling up team.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to push for Britain and Weaver Vale to become a safer, fairer, and more secure place for all.

“More than six years on from the Grenfell fire tragedy, hundreds of thousands of residents are still living in dangerous flammable buildings, including people in apartments at The Deck in Runcorn old town.

“We have about 150 schools and 41 hospitals, including Leighton Hospital, serving my Northwich constituents, affected by unsafe concrete.

“Meanwhile, homelessness continues to grow across the country due to unaffordable housing costs, exacerbated by rocketing mortgage rates and private rents.

“Labour is committed to building 300,000 new homes a year and putting social and genuinely affordable housing at the very heart of our plans.”

Mike’s new boss, Angela Rayner, held on to Labour’s deputy leadership in the reshuffle, and also added the new role of shadow deputy prime minister to her list of jobs.

Angela said: “The wonderful Mike Amesbury MP has agreed to make a great comeback as shadow minister for building safety and homelessness.

“His years of experience are invaluable to our team.”