WEAVER Vale MP Mike Amesbury has been named shadow employment minister.

It is the second promotion in less than a year for Mike, after previously being named a Parliamentary Private Secretary in Labour's Shadow DWP team.

In his inaugural year as Weaver Vale MP he has made many visits to employers, businesses and colleges in the constituency and is a former careers advisor and Connexions manager by trade.

Mike said: "This is a huge and exciting challenge where I'll get the chance to press the government on its employment record and policies, and I'll campaign for high quality jobs where people are paid a good wage and have genuine employment rights."