EAST Lancashire MP and Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry has stepped down from the Government in this week’s reshuffle.
The 41-year-old, who has three young children, declined an offer of becoming number two in the Foreign Office.
He has so far not been replaced as Northern Powerhouse minister, a job he held for three years..
Mr Berry, MP for Rossendale and Darwen since 2010, said: “It has been the greatest privilege of my life to fight for the North in Westminster. I have helped move the Northern Powerhouse from concept to cabinet table.
“I firmly believe it was the foundation stone of the blue wall that delivered a Conservative majority government.
“I chose to leave government after being offered another role that would have required substantial amounts of foreign travel.
“I did not think it was workable. I have three children under three, the youngest less than a week old. Family will always come first.
“I loved being Northern Powerhouse minister and doing a job that directly benefited my constituents and the people of East Lancashire.”
Cllr John Slater, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council Conservative group said: “Jake’s departure will be a great loss to the government. He will remain a hard-working MP.”
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