ALL three of Tameside MPs have now become ministers in the newly formed Labour Government.
Andrew Gwynne, the MP for the new Denton and Gorton constituency, has been appointed as a Public Health Minister.
He follows in the footsteps of Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner, who is the new Deputy Prime Minister and Levelling Up Secretary, and Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds, who is the new Business Secretary.
The appointment on Tuesday (July 9) came on the same day that Gwynne was sworn in as an MP in the House of Commons by taking the oath of allegiance to His Majesty King Charles.
Gwynne said it was an honour to be asked to serve by Sir Keir Starmer and he is looking forward to playing his part.
“I am honoured to have been asked by the Prime Minister to serve as Public Health Minister in the Department for Health and Social Care,” he commented.
“From protecting future generations from the dangers of smoking, tackling childhood obesity, reducing gambling harms, battling health inequalities, ending new HIV cases, or ensuring a laser-like focus on prevention across our health system, this is an area with real potential to have a fundamental impact on people’s lives.
“I look forward to working with our great ministerial team and playing my part in delivering the change people across our country voted for.”
Gwynne was elected as the first MP for the newly created Denton and Gorton constituency following last week’s General Election, with a vote share of 50.8 per cent.
The 50-year-old previously served as the MP for the former Denton and Reddish constituency since 2005.
A boundary review by the Electoral Commission last year redrew the electoral map across Greater Manchester, which saw Gwynne stand in the newly formed Denton and Gorton constituency – comprising Denton, Gorton, Burnage, Levenshulme and Longsight.
Gwynne was previously a Parliamentary Private Secretary to several ministers when Labour was last in Government before holding several Shadow Cabinet roles during his time in office – including a Shadow Minister for Public Health.
Before becoming an MP, he became England’s youngest councillor in May 1996 when elected on to Tameside Council to represent the Denton West ward, which he did for almost nine years.