Esther McVey: Junior minister call was a welcome surprise

Sep 12 2012

In the words of songwriter Stanley Adams, 'What a difference a day makes' and for me that day was last Tuesday when the Prime Minister called me  to number 10 to make me a junior minister.

Was I expecting the call?  No I wasn’t, but at 16.15 my mobile rang, the call coming from a withheld number. I took the call and was asked could I come and meet the Prime Minister, I replied yes, wondering who would have said  'no'?  I was given the precise time of 16.35 to be at number 10 and the conversation ended.

As I walked up the street I saw others come and go. People appointed, people moved, people demoted. It's a strange old world politics, and I was about to be promoted after two years of being in Parliament, and it has to be added 10 years trying to get there. So for those who think it's been a fast journey it hasn't and I don't believe politics is. I was once told politics is a marathon not a sprint.

A few minutes later I was made the Minister for Disabled People, a junior Minister in the Department of Work and Pensions, where I'd previously been working as the Private Parliamentary Secretary for Chris Grayling.

Like all jobs a promotion requires hard work and a steep learning curve. I'm prepared for the extra work and the challenge and I shall endeavour to do my very best for the people I represent.

Twitter @esthermcveymp