Victoria Atkins - politician in a hurry
HIGH-flying MP Victoria Atkins, whose Louth & Horncastle includes Holton-le-Clay, has been promoted to the Cabinet.
Ms Atkins transfers from The Treasury, where she was Financial Secretary, to become Health Secretary - one of the most senior posts in the Government.
She takes over from Steve Barclay who has become Environment Secretary in favour of Dr Therese Coffey who returns to the back benches.
Ms Atkins (47), formerly a barrister specialising in fraud cases, was elected in 2015 in succession to long-serving Sir Peter Tapsell after he stepped down.
She was diagnosed with Type I diabetes aged 3.
In her new role, Ms Atkins faces immensely an challenging task, with the NHS under immense pressure coming from all directions - not least recurring industrial action by hospital doctors and long patient waiting lists.
Ms Atkins has energy and a voracious appetite for hard work, but whether she has the personality, skill and drive to resolve such formidable issues will become apparent in the run-up to next year's General Election.
She will doubtless need plenty of support from her husband, Paul Kenward, who is managing director of British Sugar.
However, it seems that local MPs Lia Nici (Great Grimsby) and Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) will remain on the back benches, apparently having been overlooked for Government office by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
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