Rachel Maclean, MP for Redditch County, yesterday (Monday) saw her hard work for Redditch rewarded as she is the first of her intake to be confirmed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) - within the Home Office.
The role of PPS is not paid and it is not a role within the Government. Therefore, Rachel will retain the independence, strong voice and robust approach for which she is known in Parliament, holding Ministers to account on the key priorities of our local health services, and other challenges facing our area.
Rachel’s role, which involves working closely with and assisting all Home Office Ministers in their parliamentary duties, including the Home Secretary, will cover a wide variety of subjects including vulnerability, safeguarding and counter extremism, domestic abuse and knife crime.
Her role also covers women and equalities, something about which Rachel is passionate and has championed during her time as the local MP.
Rachel said: “I’m honoured to be selected for this role, particularly to work on such an important portfolio of issues, that are all very relevant to us, here in Redditch.
“This role will mean that I can ensure Redditch’s voice is heard at the very heart of Government, and I believe I will be able to make a real difference.”
There’s sometimes a misconception when an MP is promoted, that they may lose their focus on their constituency. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Rachel added: “I could not do my new job without my feet firmly rooted in Redditch. As a resident of Redditch myself, I know all too well how important this portfolio is and since becoming the MP I’ve seen for myself in my surgeries how I can help people with desperate problems. This is far and away the most important part of my job as MP, and nothing is going to change that. My new responsibilities won’t require any more time away from Redditch than my current role.
“And my new responsibility will enable me to have a real insight into the highest levels of the Home office and achieve real and lasting change.
“I am obviously over the moon that my hard work for Redditch has been so recognised, and I look forward immensely to working with Home Secretary Amber Rudd and her team.”
Only last week Rachel disclosed official figures showing her to be among the top performers amongst MPs. House of Commons Library figures showed Rachel is 49th out of 637 MPs, with 114 contributions to debates since the beginning of the current Parliament.