A HAMPSHIRE MP has been named as an aide to one of the country's most important ministers.

Conservative Winchester MP Steve Brine has been appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt.

Although not a ministerial position, it will see Mr Brine work with Mr Hunt as his link with other MPs and acting as his eyes and ears.

Mr Brine has previously served as a PPS to Mike Penning, a minister at the Department for Work and Pensions and Minister for Disabled People, and then followed him to carry out some work at the Home Office and Ministry of Justice.

He has been Winchester's MP since 2010, when he unseated Liberal Democrat Mark Oaten, and increased his majority to 16,914 votes.

In a message sent out on social media site Twitter, Mr Brine said: "pleased to say I will be moving to Dept of Health as PPS to the Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt".