Cumbrian MP Rory Stewart joins Cabinet as International Development Secretary

Rory Stewart, who has joined the Cabinet. Credit: PA Images

Cumbrian Border MP Rory Stewart has joined Theresa May's Cabinet as Secretary of State for International Development.

Mr Stewart has taken over from Penny Morduant, who has become Defence Secretary following the sacking of Gavin Williamson last night.

He was first elected as MP for Penrith and Border in 2010 and has held several junior ministerial positions. Most recently, he was the Minister of State for Prisons in the Ministry of Justice.Before entering politics he was a diplomat with the Foreign Office, which included time in Iraq following the 2003 war there, ran a human development organisation in Afghanistan and worked at Harvard University in the USA.

He said last night that he was "delighted an honoured" to have his new job.