Although you've probably never heard of the position before, the role of Minister for the East Midlands was previously held by Gillian Merron who has been moved to a post in the Department for International Development.

Hope, the MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, is also Minister for the so-called "Third Sector" which covers charities, voluntary groups, social enterprises and the like.

Hope said, "My message to the people of the East Midlands is that I am here to take on your causes and I will do so with relish." He didn't elaborate on exactly what these causes would be, but one might be a little dubious given his voting record.

According to TheyWorkForYou.com, Hope:

* Voted strongly for introducing ID cards.
* Voted very strongly for introducing foundation hospitals.
* Voted strongly for introducing student top-up fees.
* Voted very strongly for Labour's anti-terrorism laws.
* Voted very strongly for the Iraq war.
* Voted very strongly against investigating the Iraq war.
* Voted very strongly for replacing Trident.

In fact, they state that he "never rebels against [his] party in this parliament." One might speculate therefore that those residents of the East Midlands concerned about these issues, or opposed to the policies of the current government might find Hope's "relish" somewhat lacking.

Cabinet Office press release:  http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=347897&NewsAreaID=2
TheyWorkForYou.com profile:  http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/phil_hope/corby
Phil Hope MP:  http://www.philhope.org.uk/