Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer has left cabinet minister Eric Pickles’ team for a new role alongside the minister overseeing gay marriage legislation.

Mr Freer is now parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Nick Boles, minister of state at the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Mr Boles will also oversee the implementation of equal marriage legislation.

Mr Freer leaves Mr Pickles’ team at the Department for Communities and Local Government following a government reshuffle on July 15 which most notably saw Michael Gove demoted from education secretary to chief whip.

He said: “I’m thrilled that Nick has appointed me as his PPS. I’ll be supporting the minister on key topics such as apprenticeships and further education, something which will be of benefit to my constituents.

“Finchley and Golders Green is lucky to have the UK’s largest provider of apprenticeships, McDonalds, based locally, as well as Hospitality House which is a major provider of skills training to the hospitality industry.”

Parliamentary private secretaries are responsible for ensuring that ministers are kept abreast of the views of backbench MPs.

Mr Freer has been a vocal campaigner on equality issues such as equal marriage, winning the coveted Spectator Speech of the Year Award for his parliamentary speech in support of equal marriage at February’s second reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act.

He was also appointed a vice-chairman of the Conservative Party in June.