Prime Minister Boris Johnson given MPs Helen Whately and Kelly Tolhurst new jobs in government
Published: 08:18, 14 February 2020
Updated: 10:34, 21 February 2020
Two MPs have been given new jobs in a government reshuffle.
The Prime Minister has promoted Helen Whately, representative for Faversham and Mid Kent, to health and social care minister.
The politician was formerly the under-secretary for the arts, heritage and tourism.
In her new role she will assist the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock, the only figure more senior in the department.
She said: "I’m delighted to have been appointed Minister for Care - and to also take on responsibility for NHS workforce. Solving the crisis in social care, and achieving our commitment of 50,000 more nurses, are two of the most important things for making sure people get the care they need.
"We need to train and recruit more doctors and nurses, but we also need talented people to stay working in the health service. I want to use my background in healthcare to make the NHS a truly great place to work.
"We know our social care system needs fixing. It’s time for us to come together and build a cross party consensus on social care, so everyone can get the care they need - without being forced to sell their homes.
"I’m looking forward to working with fantastic NHS and social care staff across the country - including here in Faversham and Mid Kent, to make healthcare better for everyone."
She will be joined by Ashford-born Edward Argar, MP for Charnwood, in Leicestershire.
Listen to the KentOnline's politics podcast break down the Cabinet re-shuffle and what it could mean for Kent
Kelly Tolhurst, of Rochester and Strood, will also be switching up offices from her previous job as under-secretary for small business, consumers and corporate responsibility.
She will be in the same position but within the Department for Transport.
The reshuffle was the first since Boris Johnson was elected.
Several senior cabinet members, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid, business secretary Andrea Leadsom and minister Esther McVey, left the government after the changes.
Read more: All the latest news from Kent
More by this author
Lydia Catling