ONE of Wiltshire’s five MPs has been promoted and another has lost his job in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Cabinet reshuffle.

Michelle Donelan, the MP for Chippenham, has been given a new job as the new Minister of State for Universities.

In a post on Twitter, she said: “Absolutely honoured and thrilled to be promoted by Boris Johnson to Minister of State in Education. Very excited to continue to work with Gavin Williamson.”

She was promoted by the PM after being temporary Minister for Children and Families, covering for Kemi Badenoch while she was on maternity leave.

Her appointment follows the sacking of Chris Skidmore, who served as universities and science minister across the Department of Education and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Miss Donelan’s appointment within the DfE was seen as indicating that a separate science minister will be appointed.

There is speculation she may also take on responsibility for further education.

In her new role, Miss Donelan’s priorities will include responding to the Augar review of post-18 education, which recommended cutting tuition fees in England, and deciding on the future shape of the teaching excellence framework.

She will play a key role in formulating the action against “low-quality” university courses promised in the Conservative manifesto, which also pledged to “strengthen academic freedom and free speech” on campuses.

South West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison was one of those to lose out in the major reshuffle carried out by Boris Johnson on Thursday.

There was no good news for newly-elected Danny Kruger, the MP for Devizes, and long-standing North Wiltshire MP James Gray.

Dr Murrison, whose constituency includes Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury, lost his job as Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development.

He was also a former chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.

He has spent much of the past few months talking to his opposite numbers in several Middle Eastern states, including Oman, the Yemen, Morocco and Turkey.

On Twitter he said: "Huge privilege to have served as Middle East and North Africa minister @foreignoffice and @DFID_UK - two really great departments with brilliant public servants we should all be immensely proud of. Good luck to my successor!

Dr Murrison was appointed to the job on May 9 last year. He was elected Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire in May 2010, and was first elected as the Conservative MP for Westbury in June 2001.

A number of people replied to Dr Murrison's Twitter announcement to praise him for his work while in office.

Emma Louise Reece said: "Thank you! @Unicef_UK we have valued your support to enable every child to access WASH + nutrition - including your help @ the launch for State of the World's Children 2019. Look forward to continuing to work with you in Parliament #TeamChildren💙

Morocco team says thank you ! All the best Dr. Murrison

Najlae B.B. said: "Morocco team says thank you ! All the best Dr. Murrison."