WELWYN Hatfield MP Grant Shapps has been made housing minister in the new coalition government, Number 10 has confirmed tonight (Thursday).

Mr Shapps was called by Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday evening and asked to carry into government the post he has held in opposition since the summer of 2007.

He has also been made a Privy Counsellor – earning him the title The Right Honourable Grant Shapps MP.

The Privy Council, which dates back to the earliest days of the monarchy, advises the Queen on matters of state.

Mr Shapps told the Welwyn Hatfield Times: “It’s a huge honour to be made a Privy Counsellor and minister of state for housing.

“It’s a role I know about as I’ve been shadowing it for three years, and faced four different housing ministers in that time.

“It’s tremendous to actually have the role myself after all this time.”

The position no longer has Cabinet status, though; the role being ‘relegated’ to accommodate five Lib Dems as part of the coalition deal.

“It’s a price worth paying for stable government and national unity,” Mr Shapps added.

As a minister of state, Mr Shapps will receive a salary of �98,740.

This is �5,197 less than was paid in the previous Labour administration, after the PM today announced a five per cent pay cut for ministerial positions.