WORCESTER'S MP has spoken about life within the ranks of Government after completing a whirlwind first two weeks as Brexit minister.

Robin Walker, who was handed the job during Theresa May's reshuffle, has already taken part in two Westminster debates about the aftermath of the EU referendum.

After a gruelling two weeks, he told the Worcester News it was still business as usual in terms of representing the city - saying nothing will change as far as constituents are concerned.

He also believes joining Mrs May's frontbench will give him more clout in bringing Worcester's concerns to the attention of senior politicians.

"It's been very exciting to get to work in a new department where the brightest and best civil servants are taking things forward," he said.

"I don't know what 'normal' is like because it's the first time I've been a minister but I've made sure to be in Westminster from around 8.30am onwards Monday to Thursday until close of play when the house is sitting.

"The two debates totalled three hours but there was a lot of preparation for both of them, and meetings so I could set out the Government position.

"But from what I've seen so far the minister's days are structured to fit in with the Westminster schedule, so people in Worcester are still getting exactly the same amount of my time.

"I'm still getting out into the city, knocking on doors and I'll still be pressing the case the same as before for things we need in Worcester, like fairer funding for schools."

He also said the one major difference to before will be his ability to raise things more effectively behind closed doors.

"I won't be able to ask questions in the House of Commons, but I will push for things just as effectively by writing to ministers," he said.

"Being in the Government should give you a bit more clout, I can do it directly by correspondence."

His first debate at Westminster was about the future of Gibraltar post-Brexit, as we revealed last week.

He has also taken questions from MPs about the future of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland going forward.

His brief in the department, led by Brexit Secretary David Davis, includes forging the 'best relationship possible' with the EU and working with the devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Brexit.

Bilateral discussions with individual EU states and leading the cross-government work on securing the "best possible terms" of Brexit also comes under his workload.

COUNCIL BODY'S FEARS OVER £5.3BN EU FUND

THE body representing Worcestershire's councils says it is worried about losing millions of EU funding due to Brexit.

Yesterday the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents Britain's town halls, revealed its unease about the future of European Structural and Investment cash between now and 2020.

The LGA says local authorities are due £5.3 billion of current EU structural cash, but many councils have yet to spend around 50 to 60 per cent of the fund.

As the Worcester News exclusively revealed two weeks ago for Worcestershire the unspent sum is £25.5 million, which is due to be sunk into new businesses, research, rural tourism, innovation, start-up enterprises and more.

The county's unspent allocation is 51 per cent, while some areas such as Birmingham have yet to spend 75 per cent of their cash, which is designed to last until 2020.

Lord Porter, the current chairman of the LGA, said: "Communities and local economies have become increasingly reliant on what EU funds can achieve for them.

“Councils have used EU funds to help new businesses start up, create thousands of new jobs, roll out broadband and build roads and bridges.

“Losing any of this vital money over the next few years would be a real blow for local economic growth and communities.”

Councillor Simon Geraghty, the county council's leader, says the current investment plans for Worcestershire will carry on "as normal" unless they are told otherwise.