PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has asked Kent MP Stephen Ladyman to step down as Minister of State for Transport.

A disappointed Dr Ladyman, MP for South Thanet, is anticipating he will be changing tack to take up a significant new role concentrating on development in the South East.

Although unable to elaborate on Thursday, when the announcement was made, he said details of his new post would soon be clarified. Dr Ladyman said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his ministerial role.

He said: "I've had several chats with Gordon Brown in recent weeks about the role he wants me to play in the future and we've agreed that I should concentrate on raising the profile of some of the serious challenges we face in the South East.

"Some of the work on local issues that I've been doing in recent years has had to be done on a minister to minister level because of my Government position and has never made it into the public domain.

"In the future I will be able to be more open about what I'm trying to achieve."