COPELAND’S MP has said that an 'exciting' but vast body of work lies ahead of her after being appointed Minister of State for Transport.

Trudy Harrison MP was promoted to the role on Thursday, one of many appointments and reshuffles made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the morning of his resignation.

She makes the step up from her role as parliamentary under-secretary in the Department for Transport.

And while it is an exciting time for the Copeland MP, the additional duties of Transport Minister as well as that of her previous role make it a vast portfolio.

“I’m not sure how much I’m celebrating the news because I’ll still be doing all of my work but now I’ll also have HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Integrated Rail Plan.”

But she said “it’s relevant to the North and that adds to the excitement.”

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She hopes that she can hit the ground running in her new role having already worked in the Department for Transport since September 2021.

“The biggest change as a new minister is understanding exactly what it all means, who does what, going on factory visits and I’ve done that already.”

She aims to continue championing West Cumbria as 'the centre for nuclear excellence' and in her new role she will look to support the British steel industry and apprenticeship opportunities.

Mrs Harrison reacted to the events of a turbulent week in the heart of Government having previously served as the Prime Minister’s parliamentary private secretary.

“I can’t deny that there have been moments when I’ve been deeply upset. I’ve always said I’d remain loyal to the Prime Minister.”

She said that it is Mr Johnson’s 'determination as leader' that saw the successful rollout of the coronavirus vaccines.

“That’s what I’m going to be looking for in a new leader which I really appreciate in Boris."

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She added that she has 'zero tolerance' for the 'gossip' that pervades Westminster.

Mrs Harrison said: “I worked with him just about every day during the pandemic (as PPS) I was in Number 10, I saw he led his team against the odds.”

She said that Mr Johnson made brave decisions in information he made public during press conference that he was advised to keep confidential.

“The criticisms are, broadly speaking, management issues, which I do not think the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom should have ever been concerned with."

Mrs Harrison said: “I want him focussed on international matters of protecting democracy; that’s what I want a PM to be focussed on.”

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