By Alan Irving

Published at 15:48, Wednesday, 12 August 2009

JAMIE Reed has been named as the government’s deputy minister for the North West, The Whitehaven News can reveal.

Although the region takes in Greater Manchester and Merseyside as well as Lancashire and Cumbria, Copeland’s MP hopes his new role will give a stronger voice to West Cumbria and a boost to the area’s economic development.

Mr Reed said yesterday: “I’m looking forward to helping the regional economy to grow – this can only be good for West Cumbria.

“I’ve campaigned long and hard for the North West to receive assistance for economic growth to help towns and villages like ours and reduce the influence of the south of the country.

“In our area so much of what we’ve achieved and still want to achieve as a community has its roots in the North West, whether it’s the nuclear industry, the regional health authority, universities or our Energy Coast plan ambitions.

“This is probably the most significant, important economic plan in the region. I want to pursue and implement this to the principal benefit of West Cumbria but also the mutual benefit of the region.”

The MP, who will retain his position as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Labour Party deputy leader Harriet Harman, added: “If this role was not to the benefit of West Cumbria and my constituents then I would have rejected it. We’ll have a stronger voice as a result.”

North West minister Phil Woolas described Copeland’s MP as one of the best and brightest in Parliament.

“Jamie will do a superb job for the region as a whole, as he already has with the Energy Coast and also working with regional agencies to ensure the regional health authority makes unprecedented investments in West Cumbria mark. He’s the ideal person for the job. It can only be good news for West Cumbria.”

Published by http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk