AN East Lancashire member of the 'Red Wall' breaking crop of new Conservative MPs has been promoted to the bottom rung of the government ladder.

Hyndburn's Sara Britcliffe, elected in December 2019 in place of Labour's Graham Jones, has become a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) in the Department for Education.

Aged 25 she is the youngest Conservative MP and ran a bakery in Oswaldtwistle between graduating with a languages degree and going to Westminster.

Her new unpaid role will see her supporting Education Secretary Gavin Williamson and his ministerial team in the House of Commons chamber and acting as their 'eyes and ears' among colleagues at Westminster.

Her father, veteran Oswaldtwistle Lancashire County Councillor and former Tory leader of Hyndburn Council, said: "I am delighted."

Cllr Miles Parkinson, current Labour leader of the borough, said: "This is extremely good news."

Ms Britcliffe, who remains a borough councillor for St Andrew's ward, said: "I am honoured and delighted to have been made a PPS in the Department for Education.

"It means I will be working on issues I feel very strongly about and ensuring the views of colleagues across the north are fed back to ministers.

"Ensuring a great education for children is a really important part of the 'levelling up' agenda and something I fell incredibly strongly about.

"I am looking forward to bringing my experience of talking to teachers, heads and parents in Hyndburn and Haslingden to the department and feeding back concerns, thoughts and questions from colleagues."

County Cllr Britcliffe said: "I am delighted that Sara's work has been recognised at Westminster.

"I think it is good for her and good for Hyndburn.

"She will ensure that the views and concerns about schools and education of people in the North-West are heard at the top table of government."

Cllr Parkinson said: "I congratulate Sara on her promotion. This is extremely good news.

"Any involvement in government by a Hyndburn MP is good for the borough.

"This is especially true of education which is vital to young people's life chances, employment, income and future.

"Hopefully she will now be able to play a part in education policy that will benefit Hyndburn residents and boost the borough."