A HAMPSHIRE MP has been named as a trade minister in the government.

Ranil Jayawardena, who has been the member of parliament for North East Hampshire since 2015, announced this morning (Wednesday) that he was asked by the Prime Minister to join the Department for International Trade as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State.

It comes after Bournemouth West MP, Conor Burns, resigned from the government after a report found that he used his position to attempt to intimidate a member of the public.

But who is Ranil Jayawardena?

The 33-year-old was born in London before moving to Hook before starting school.

He attended Hook Infant School and Hook Junior School in the village, before going to Robert May's School in Odiham.

After leaving school, he went to Alton College, and graduated from the London School of Economics in 2008, with a BSc in Government.

Following his time at university, he worked at Lloyds Banking Group, whilst also volunteering for the then-MP of North East Hampshire, James Arbuthnot.

In 2008, Mr Jayawardena was elected to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for the Bramley and Sherfield ward, where he eventually became deputy leader and cabinet member for finance and property.

During his time in the borough, he worked on projects such as the new John Lewis and Waitrose store at Eastrop roundabout, becoming the figurehead of an anti-social behaviour crackdown and allowing for half-an-hour of free parking.

He is a keen supporter of weekly bin collections.

He resigned in 2015, when he was elected MP for North East Hampshire, after Mr Arbuthnot stood down. Last December's general election was his third victory at the polls, but saw his majority squashed by the Liberal Democrats, but still holds a stranglehold on the seat, with a majority of over 20,000.

During the campaign, he spoke out against the proposed housing development at Shapley Heath, calling it "unnecessary". Throughout the Brexit process, he has thought that "no deal is better than a bad deal", although remained hopeful of a deal.