NEW Forest West MP Desmond Swayne has been appointed to the opposition front bench team by Tory leader William Hague

Mr Swayne will speak on health matters.

In response to the appointment, Mr Swayne said it was 'a tremendous honour' to be invited by Mr Hague to join the Front Bench.

"I am convinced that this will be a vital battle ground during the next election and I relish the prospect of taking on the Government and promoting the exciting policies that the Opposition has developed to address the problems of the NHS," he said.

Mr Swayne has been serving as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Shadow Cabinet Health & Social Services Spokesman, Dr Liam Fox, for several years.

But he admits that health was not his main interest when he first went into Parliament.

The first he knew of his latest appointment was when he was approached in the lobby on Monday night by William Hague and the Chief Whip, and asked to report to the Chief Whip's office the next morning.

He has yet to discuss which specific areas of the health debate he will be responsible for.

He is currently on the Health & Social Care Bill Committee.