Labour MP Sarah McCarthy-Fry is now junior minister for the Department for Children, Schools and Families – a step up from her job in the chief whip's office.

The move was announced yesterday as prime minister Gordon Brown reorganised his government.

It comes after Ms McCarthy-Fry publicly voiced her support for Mr Brown during calls for a leadership contest from other party members. 'I am absolutely delighted,' she said.

Among her duties Ms McCarthy-Fry will be responsible for the protection of vulnerable children, obesity and education.

'I still haven't got my head around it fully and it will be straight in at the deep end,' she added.

'But I think these are particularly important issues for Portsmouth, as well as important nationally, and I am really looking forward to getting into the role.'

>> Ms McCarthy-Fry recently took part in a schoolchildren's debate at the Labour Party conference organised by the Citizens' Advice Bureau, along with winners of the young consumer of the year competition.

The group discussed a range of issues from teaching finances in school to how much consumers should know about money.

Ms McCarthy-Fry said: 'I was delighted to take part in this debate, the young people did tremendously well and showed us professionals a thing or two.

'Educating young people about financial issues is vitally important if we want to ensure the next generation know how to avoid debt, look after their money and to think critically before taking out unaffordable loans or becoming targets for unscrupulous lenders.'