ST HELENS South and Whiston MP Marie Rimmer has been unveiled as Labour's new shadow minister for disabled people.

The party today (February 1) announced that Ms Rimmer would be taking up the position.

Ms Rimmer, a former St Helens Council leader, was first elected as a councillor in 1978 and became an MP in 2015.

She is also registered as disabled due to deafness.

After her appointment the MP: “This Tory government has consistently neglected the needs of disabled people and has set back the good work the last Labour government did helping millions of disabled people to live as independent lives as possible.

"The government’s new flawed PIP assessment process is seeing thousands of people lose their social security support, with many having motability cars removed before their appeals, forcing many disabled people out of work."

Ms Rimmer, who can only hear with a cochlear implant, added: "As a disabled woman myself I have a direct understanding of how government can work to allow every individual to live as full a life as possible.”

Commenting on the appointment, former shadow minister for disabled people Debbie Abrahams MP, said: “I am delighted that Marie will be joining the team as our shadow minister for disabled people.

"Time and again, Marie has spoken up in Parliament for disabled and vulnerable people and she will be a real asset to our team.

The shadow secretary of state for work and pensions added: "I look forward to working with her to oppose the government’s cruel cuts to disabled people and co-develop with disabled people our policy programme through Labour’s Disability Equality Roadshow.”