A NORTHUMBERLAND MP is set to lose her role as a cabinet minister after it was announced that the Government department she heads up is to be abolished.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP for Berwick-Upon-Tweed, became Secretary of State for International Development in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle in February.

However, her tenure in that role will come to an end later this year, after it was announced on Tuesday that the Department for International Development (DfID) is to merge with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will merge.

The Government said that work will begin immediately on the merger, with the new department – the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – to be established in early September and led by the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab.

The International Development Secretary role will no longer exist and reports suggest that it is not clear if Mrs Trevelyan will retain a cabinet post after the autumn.

In a statement, she said: “Since I was appointed as Secretary of State for DfID, four months ago, I have seen the dedicated and heartfelt work to protect the world’s most vulnerable, ensure that girls receive a quality education, and tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.

“Earlier this month, the PM and I hosted from London the Global Vaccine Summit that showed the results that can be achieved when diplomacy and development work in lockstep. Over 60 nations attended, collectively raising $8.8billion to vaccinate people around the world.

“We are, and have always been, a bold and confident nation, unafraid to stand up for what we believe in. I see our development leadership as squarely in that great tradition.

“We remain committed to our 0.7 GNI target, and we remain committed to development.

“The steps announced by the Prime Minister today embody that global outlook, and with the third largest diplomatic network and third biggest aid budget, sets a course to make our voice heard in the world.”