By Margaret Crosby

Published at 15:45, Wednesday, 17 June 2009

WHITEHAVEN-born politician Jane Kennedy became the latest to quit Gordon Brown’s government last week.

The former farming minister said she could not offer the Prime Minister her support and hit out at “smears’’ of colleagues by people associated with No 10.

Ms Kennedy, 51, was born in Whitehaven and went to school in Darlington.

Meanwhile Phil Woolas, brother of Seascale’s postmaster Andrew Woolas, has been made regional minister for the North West alongside his responsibilities as Minister of State for Borders and Immigration at the Home Office.

Speaking about his new role he said: “I was brought up in Burnley, went to school and college in Nelson, university in Manchester, my family live in Cumbria and I represent Oldham.

“I have strong links to the region and a great affection for it and see it as my job to champion the region in Whitehall and Europe.”

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk