EAST Lancashire MP Sir Jake Berry has quit as Conservative Party chairman as new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak starts to reshape his cabinet.

The Rossendale and Darwen MP was appointed to the job by former PM Liz Truss on September 6.

But this afternoon he announced he had given up the post and its seat in cabinet.

Father-of-three Sir Jake said on Twitter: "It has been an honour to serve as the Conservative Party Chairman, but all good things must come to an end.

"I relish the opportunity to serve our great party and my constituents from the backbenches once again."

Sir Jake, knighted in Boris Johnson's resignation honours list, told the Lancashire Telegraph: "I am happy to be free to fight for Rossendale and Darwen."

Elected in 2010, the 43-year-old previously served as Minister for the Northern Powerhouse from 2017 to 2020.

He was then chairman of the Northern Research Group of MPs leading calls for Mr Johnson's levelling up agenda to be pursued with an emphasis on regenerated Northern 'Red Wall' seats taken from Labour.

Just yesterday Sir Jake welcomed Mr Sunak to Conservative Central Office as the party's new leader and PM elect.