HORNSEY and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone has been appointed parliamentary under-secretary for equalities in the new coalition Government.

The Liberal Democrat MP, who was the shadow equalities spokesman for the past two years, will work alongside newly-appointed Home Secretary Theresa May.

In her blog, Ms Featherstone talked of her enthusiasm for the ministerial call.

She said: "This is a huge opportunity to change things for the better. I will be able to do - not just to say.

"For two years as shadow equalities spokesperson - through the Equality Bill, through countless speeches to groups, through our conference policy papers on women and youth - it has always been about what Lib Dems would do about equality if we were in government. Blimey - we are!

"Now I can deliver it - well, some of it. Equalities was not in that first tier agreement released by Liberal Democrats and Conservatives prior to coalition - but it will be part of the second, I believe."