MIKE Foster and Sir Michael Spicer are today celebrating influential new jobs after a successful 24 hours for the local MPs.

Worcester MP Mr Foster has been promoted to the fringes of Government after landing a job as the Parliamentary aide to Education Minister Margaret Hodge.

He is to take up the post of Parliamentary Private Secretary immediately - working on lifelong learning and higher and further education.

The job of PPS is commonly regarded as the first rung on the ministerial ladder.

Sir Michael, meanwhile, has been elected as chairman of the Conservative Party's 1922 Committee.

The West Worcestershire MP was selected by the party's 166 MPs in a secret ballot last night - and immediately takes charge of running the leadership battle.

Mr Foster said he hoped he was perfectly suited to his new role.

Before entering Parliament, he was a further education teacher at Worcester College of Technology.

He has served on the education select committee since 1997 and is secretary of the all-party Parliamentary group on further education.

"Clearly, I was delighted when Margaret rang me to ask if I'd do the job for her," he said. "Given my long-standing interest in lifelong learning and further and higher education, it was a job I was happy to immediately say yes to.

"It means coming off the education select committee and having a role within Government - but I want to use that effectively for the best interests of Worcester and the country as a whole.

"This is a great opportunity for me and I know there are some big challenges ahead."

Sir Michael becomes the "shop steward" for backbench Conservative MPs.

His first task is to organise the ballot to decide who will succeed William Hague.

Sir Michael announced nominations would close at noon next Thursday, July 5, with voting beginning the following Tuesday.

He said he wanted "to ensure the unity of the party and to raise the status of the Parliamentary party".