A KENT MP has vowed to help overcome bureaucratic barriers frustrating government plans for tens of thousands of new homes in his new ministerial job championing the south east.

Chatham and Aylesford MP Jonathan Shaw has been appointed Minister for the South East new Prime Minister by Gordon Brown, one of seven across England.

The creation of regional ministers has sparked claims the government is determined to re-introduce controversial plans for regional government.

Kent MEP and UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage said: “This is a wholly undesirable appointment. This is a sign that under Gordon Brown, regionalisation will continue apace and that flies completely in the face of public opinion.”

But Mr Shaw said one of his priorities would be to find ways of making sure the Government’s plans for growth in the Thames Gateway and Ashford were achieved.

A critical report by the National Audit Office published last month warned a “step change" was needed to deliver "the high quality transport, housing, health, education, leisure and employment opportunities the region needs."

The report also criticised the government’s rate of house-building and said more money was needed for infrastructure.

The MP said Kent had already received millions of pounds in investment but added: “I will be asking what particular problems are causing hold-ups and delays and what people on the ground believe are the mechanisms needed to solve those problems."

He stressed: "There is a lot of good work going on and we have seen substantial investment but where there are difficulties, I will try and unblock them. I want to find solutions to help improve Kent.”

Mr Shaw has also been appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary to Hillary Benn, the new Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.