Cumbrian MP Julie Minns has been appointed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary, the first Carlisle MP since Eric Martlew to hold such a role.

Ms Minns has been asked by the Prime Minister to support the Secretary of State for Transport and the four strong ministerial team, as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS), and her appointment was confirmed in an announcement from No.10.

“I am delighted to have been asked by the Prime Minister to serve as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Transport Secretary” Ms Minns said.

“As the MP for one of England’s most geographically remote constituencies, transport and connectivity sits at the heart of the Labour Government’s plan to get our economy back on track.  

“I look forward to assisting the government with its plans to fix Britain’s railways, buses and road networks, to boost our regional and national economic growth.”

The last Carlisle MP to be appointed a PPS was Labour’s Eric Martlew, who served as PPS to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, David Clark, before becoming PPS to the Lords Leader and Minister for Women, Baroness Jay of Paddington. 

A Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) is an unpaid assistant to a Minister, selected from backbench MPs to be the ‘eyes and ears’ of the Minister in the House of Commons. 

Although it requires close working with Ministers and their departments, a PPS is an unpaid governmental role.

It is often regarded as the first step in a Parliamentarian’s career towards a government role.