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Paice secures position in new coalition Government

Local Cambridgeshire MP, Jim Paice, has been asked by the Prime Minister to become the new Minister of State for Agriculture and Food within the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) – a position which he has shadowed for many years.

Speaking after accepting the position within the new coalition Government, Jim said, “I was honoured to be asked by David Cameron to take on this role which I have spent much time preparing for in Opposition. I came into politics with a desire to change things for the better, especially for rural communities, and I believe that this position within the new Government will offer me real opportunities to do that. Like all Government departments we will have tough decisions to make as regards spending, but I am excited by the challenges ahead and the potential to improve life for our farmers, and the millions of people who live in rural areas.”

In the recent General Election Jim was re-elected to serve as the Conservative MP for South East Cambridgeshire. Nationally the Conservative Party gained 96 seats, but fell short of gaining an overall majority in the House of Commons and on May 11 a coalition Government was announced between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.

Speaking about the new Government Jim said, “Obviously I fought this election seeking an outright Conservative win, but we must respect the verdict of the electorate. Our country needs strong, stable and decisive government and I believe that working together with the Liberal Democrats means that we can offer this. Although coalitions necessarily involve compromise, I sincerely hope that we will all put aside our political differences and put the national interest first.”