CONSERVATIVE MP Simon Burns has earned a high profile promotion in David Cameron’s latest cabinet reshuffle.

The Chelmsford MP is now the Minister for Transport in one of the many changes made by the Prime Minister announced at Downing Street on September 4.

Burns, who was first elected to Parliament in 1987, will replace Theresa Villiers who also received a promotion within the cabinet after being handed the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland post.

Previously Burns had been Minister for Health Services since May 2010 when the coalition Government formed.

Speaking after accepting the role, he said he was looking forward to his new job.

Burns said: “Following the Government reshuffle, I am delighted that the Prime Minister has appointed me the Minister for Transport.

“I loved working at the Department of Health and the job I was given to take the Health and Social Care Act through Parliament was completed in the spring.


“Now, in the Department of Transport, I will be dealing with policy issues involving HS2, the railways, and aviation, which will be a new and exciting challenge.”

His rise in the House of Commons comes in his 25th year as a MP.


The 59-year-old Nottingham-born man has represented Chelmsford since 1987 when he took over the seat from the previous Tory MP Norman St John-Stevas.


He had previously stood for election four years before as the Tory candidate for Alyn and Deeside in north Wales but lost to Labour’s Barry Jones.


His constituency was changed to Chelmsford West at the 1997 general election before being changed back again to Chelmsford in 2010.


Before entering politics, Burns, who has two children, attended Worcester College at Oxford University where he obtained a third class honours degree in Modern History.


His mark led to his nickname of Third Degree Burns.


Last year, Burns was appointed to the Privy Council which acts as an advisory board to the Queen.