South West Devon MP Rebecca Smith has been appointed Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education as part of Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s reshuffle.

Ms Smith will take on the role alongside her existing responsibilities as an opposition whip and has also been promoted from Junior Opposition Whip to Senior Opposition Whip.

As a shadow minister, Ms Smith will be responsible for scrutinising the Government’s work on education policy, whilst helping develop Conservative policy in opposition.

An opposition whip, meanwhile, helps organise Conservative MPs in Parliament and encourages them to attend and vote in line with the party’s position.

Ms Smith previously served as a junior minister in the Department for Work and Pensions while the Conservatives were in government.

“I am delighted to have been appointed to Kemi Badenoch’s Shadow Education team and to have been promoted to a Senior Opposition Whip,” she said. “There is already so much to get stuck into.”

Ms Smith said families across South West Devon regularly contacted her about difficulties securing special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support for their children.

She also raised concerns about pressures facing schools, saying the number of teachers had fallen since Labour came to government.

Ms Smith also said the impact of social media on children and young people needed greater scrutiny, adding that looked-after children should receive the support and opportunities they deserved.

She said the Conservative Party believed every child should have access to an “excellent education”, with high standards in schools and proper support for teachers.

The MP added that she was looking forward to “holding Labour to account” and helping set out what she described as a strong Conservative alternative on education.

Ms Smith will continue to represent South West Devon while carrying out her new opposition responsibilities.