A BURNLEY man is the first Muslim to become a minister.

Shahid Malik, MP for Dewsbury, has been appointed as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for International Development.

By making history, Mr Malik is following in the footsteps of his father, Rafique, who was Burnley's first Asian mayor.

Mr Malik, who went to Barden High School and worker as a member of the Commission for Racial Equality, was elected as an MP in 2005.

He had been working as Parliamentary Private Secretary for Schools Minsiter Jim Knight.

Now he has received the promotion after new Prime Minister Gordon Brown unveiled his first cabinet.

Mr Malik said his new role was a "great privilege".

He said: "I am very humbled and am looking forward to giving 100 per cent to the department.

"We have got a big job in terms of helping to support the developing countries, which is what the department does.

"That is anything from tackling poverty to providing vaccinations and helping with trade.

"I think if you ask any Labour MP what would be their dream job they would say working in international development, because it is work which helps to save lives and ensures people have a better quality of life in some of the poorest parts of the world.

"Nothing can give you more satisfaction than that sort of work."

As we revealed on Saturday, Burnley MP Kitty Ussher was also promoted to a junior ministerial post as Parliamentary Secretary at the Treasury .