Hitchin MP Bim Afolami has been promoted in Rishi Sunak's cabinet reshuffle.

Mr Afolami, who was elected as MP for Hitchin and Harpenden in 2017, has been appointed City minister in Sunak's rejig.

The former HSBC executive and Freshfields lawyer Afolami takes the City brief after he was named economic secretary to the Treasury — which carries the City brief — late on Monday evening.

Prior to entering politics Mr Afolami - who attended Eton School - was a senior executive at HSBC working on group corporate strategy and restructuring.

Bim Afolami MP told Hitchin Nub News: "I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

"At a time of challenge and opportunity for the UK economy, I look forward to working with the Chancellor and the Prime Minister to deliver on our plan to get inflation down and tackle the cost of living.

"My new role has a particular focus on financial services - a jewel in the crown for the UK and a key employer in Hitchin, Harpenden and our villages - and I look forward to working closely with the industry as we deliver for this vital British industry."

Mr Afolami previously spent three years as an M&A lawyer at Magic Circle law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, before moving to US law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett where he also spent three years.

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In parliament, Afolami was chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Financial Markets and Services and he also co-chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking.

He replaces Andrew Griffith, who has been given the job of minister for science, research and innovation.