Reading West MP, Martin Salter, has been appointed Vice
Chair of the Labour Party by new Prime Minister Gordon
Brown.
Mr Salter will
be one of six Vice-Chairs working directly to Deputy Leader Harriet
Harman. He will be in charge of campaigning on environmental issues and
will be working closely with the new ministerial team at the Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Harriet
Harman said;
“I look forward to working with
Martin Salter and his other colleagues in this high-calibre team of
Party Vice-Chairs who are taking on a range of important
challenges.â€
Mr Salter has also been reappointed
as Labour’s Parliamentary Spokesman for Angling and Shooting – a role
he has held since 2002.
Martin Salter
said:
“Concern for the environment is fast
leaping up the political agenda and my job will be to coordinate the
work of MPs, councillors and party activists with the work of ministers
across the government on the environmental agenda. I will also be
liaising with the green groups and voluntary organisations to engage
them in the process of developing policy. My strong contacts in the
world of angling, fisheries, water and wildlife groups will give me an
excellent start in this new role.
My immediate
priorities will be to press for an enhanced Marine Bill to incorporate
the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review and possibly the recently
announced proposals on improved public access to the English coastline.
I also intend to explore ways in which young people can be better
engaged in action to improve the environment and to promote awareness
of climate change.â€