The political career of South Holland and The Deepings MP John Hayes has taken a sharp upward turn with his appointment to a crucial role within the Government.
Mr Hayes will work alongside Prime Minister David Cameron and across all Government departments in advising on policy and parliamentary matters.
As a bonus, Mr Hayes has also become part of a select group of advisers known as The Privy Council which made up of past and present cabinet ministers who have the title Right Honourable.
The new job comes despite Mr Hayes’ outspoken views as Energy Minister on wind farms, claiming the UK was “peppered” with them and that “enough is enough” in terms of commissioning new ones.
Mr Hayes said: “I’m obviously very honoured and flattered to join The Privy Council and to be working so closely with the Prime Minister.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity and I’ll do my best to bring political value to the role.”
Mr Hayes’ official title is Minister of State for the Cabinet Office but political observers see it as a move by the Prime Minister to improve relations between himself and backbench Tory MPs.
“The Prime Minister invited me to Number 10 and said he was very pleased with the work I’d been doing at the Department of Energy and Climate Change,” Mr Hayes said.
“But then he asked me if I wanted to work even more closely with the top of Government and I told him I would be pleased and excited by that.”
However, Mr Hayes also gave an assurance this his constituents would not lose out as a result of his new job.
He said: “This is a bigger and broader role for me and I will do my best in it but, as ever, my first consideration will be to South Holland and The Deepings and that will never change.”