MIKE Amesbury has been given a shadow ministerial role by new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in his first frontbench.

The Weaver Vale MP has been named as shadow minister for housing and planning.

Since being first elected in 2017, Mr Amesbury has been one of the leading advocates nationally and locally for leasehold reform.

He also has a background in local government, as he was on the planning committee at Manchester City Council and is also a former director of a housing association.

Speaking about his appointment, Mr Amesbury said: “I have a passion for these areas and I can't wait to get started.

“My focus will be both local and national and will encompass a drive for affordable - genuinely affordable - housing, more publicly-funded council housing, leaseholder justice and measures to tackle homelessness, among many other very pressing issues.”