New Small Firms Minister defends her position

It is now eight weeks since the new Minister for Small Business, Margaret Hodge, was appointed to the position as part of her wide-ranging DTI portfolio.

During that time, there has been criticism for a low-key approach to the role, and the fact that she is the sixth Minister since Labour came to power to hold the Small Business brief. A revolving-door approach which some see as a loss of continuity for the position and an indication of its lack of importance within the Government.

In her first interview as Small Business Minister, Ms Hodge tells The Telegraph that there is some unease that there is a new Minister and that it's up to her to prove herself.

She says that she has 'a very good understanding of small business' and that her early childhood memories include her father setting up a business when the family first moved to the UK and helping him work out the PAYE on people, using tables.

Full article: New Minister pulls up policy shutters - Telegraph, July 2006