A WEST Cumbrian MP has appointed for a ministerial role in the Government.

Trudy Harrison, MP for Copeland, has been appointed as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport.

This makes her the first MP from Cumbria to serve as a minister since 2019.

That was when Rory Stewart, served as International Development Secretary.

He was MP for Penrith and the Border.

Mrs Harrison has been the Member of Parliament for Copeland since 2017.

She won her seat in a by-election after the resignation of Jamie Reed.

The West Cumbria native was born in Seascale.

The 45-year-old had previously been a Parliamentary Private Secretary for the Prime Minister since 2019.

Mrs Harrison spoke at the Launch of the Invest in Cumbria Alliance at Carlisle Youth Zone on Friday.

"It was all very exciting. Heading into the chamber the PM signalled that I'd have something to look forward to and I would like it.

"It was so exciting because it really aligns to what we have in Cumbria but it also aligns to COP26 and the need to decarbonise by 2050."

She added that communities should be at the heart of decisions around levelling up.

Mrs Harrison currently lives in Bootle and London and has four daughters with her husband Keith.

She served as an independent parish councillor in Bootle for 13 years between 2004 and 2007.

On the announcement of her new role, Mrs Harrison said: “It has been the greatest honour to serve as the Prime Minister’s Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) since December 2019, through dark times and good times.

"And prior to that, as PPS across three great Government departments - DfE, MoD and DfT.

"I’ve also enjoyed my time on the Education Select Committee, especially fighting for a new Whitehaven Academy school.

"But today, I received a call from the Prime Minister - he thanked me for my service, explained the new horizons ahead and wished me well on my way as a Parliamentary Under Secretary - a Transport Minister.

“With tears and emotional gratitude, I gladly accepted and very much look forward to the next chapter."

Mrs Harrison is a supporter of plans for nuclear reactors at Moorside Nuclear Power Station.

She has also been ardently campaigning in favour of West Cumbria Mining's plans for a coal mine near Whitehaven.