Gay MP Chris Bryant promoted to Europe minister

Chris Bryant, the Labour MP for Rhondda, has been promoted to the position of Europe minister.

Previously a junior minister with responsibility for Africa and Asia, the gay politician replaces Glenys Kinnock. She will now take on responsibility for Africa.

Bryant announced his new job via Twitter on Sunday night before Downing Street had chance to announce the change and reportedly before Kinnock was aware of it.

He wrote: “Off to work with a new job – minister for Europe.”

Both Downing Street and Bryant’s spokesman were quick to state the change was “just internal housekeeping” and was not a big move.

Bryant will keep his parliamentary undersecretary pay cheque of £96,167, while Kinnock remains on £106,136.

He will not sit in cabinet meetings, unlike his predecessors.

The move has been attacked by some, with shadow Europe minister, Mark Francois, saying: “Chris Bryant is now Labour’s twelfth Europe minister in as many years, concrete proof of their failure to take European issues seriously. No wonder Labour’s record on Europe is of retreat, not leadership.”