Politician Chris Bryant has been promoted to the position of Europe minister following a reshuffle, it was announced today.
The MP for Rhondda, broke the news of his new appointment on Twitter, writing “Off to work with a new job - Minister for Europe”. He reportedly revealed the job change before Downing Street had announced it officially and allegedly before Glenys Kinnock, who he will be replacing as Europe minster, had been informed of the change.
The pair will effectively be swapping jobs, with Kinnock taking over Bryant’s previous role as minister for Africa. Downing Street played down the move, describing the mini Foreign Office reshuffle as “housekeeping”.
Former clergyman Bryant has faced criticism about his appointment to the role, with Mark Francois, the shadow Europe minister, saying: “Chris Bryant is now Labour’s twelfth Europe minister in as many years, concrete proof of their failure to take European issues seriously.
"No wonder Labour’s record on Europe is of retreat, not leadership."