North West Durham MP Richard Holden bas been named the new chairman of the Tory Party.

Holden, who was previously minister for roads and local transport has been reshuffled into the role as Rishi Sunak re-organises his top team.

The MP, first elected in 2019, replaces Greg Hands who had only been in office as party chair since February.

The Northern Echo has contacted Richard Holden for a comment.

It comes amid a host of changes around the Cabinet table after the PM sacked Suella Braverman as Home Secretary.

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James Cleverly steps into the role of Home Secretary while Victoria Atkins has been appointed Health Secretary.

The biggest surprise move so far sees ex-Prime Minister David Cameron make a return to frontline politics as Foreign Secretary.

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He left government in 2016 and stepped down as an MP when Britain voted to leave the EU in his Brexit referendum, after he had campaigned to remain.

Holden’s seat of North West Durham will be abolished at the next General Election with parts of his constituency being absorbed by four neighbouring seats.

It means that unless Holden can find another seat to contest, he will leave Parliament at the next election, which could be just around the corner.

He previously branded the news as “deeply disappointing” and “undeniably sad”.