Lewes MP Norman Baker has spoken of the challenge of ensuring the Home Office is a more liberal following his surprise promotion to Minister of State there. 

Mr Baker was told he would replace fellow Liberal Democrat Jeremy Browne as Minister of State at the Home Office by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg yesterday morning.

The former transport minister said he hoped to be a liberal influence when making policy on issues like immigration, drugs, and counter-terrorism.

But some commentators questioned the appointment, claiming Mr Baker had a history of backing “conspiracy theories”.

Mr Baker told The Argus: “I’m not surprised by much these days. 

"I’m very sad to be leaving transport as I’ve had a very good time and achieved a lot here.

“But it’s a major promotion to one of the three main offices of state.”

When asked what areas he hoped to focus on in his new role, Mr Baker said: “It’s early days at the moment but it’s important that the Home Office feels more liberal than in recent years.

“The key thing about being liberal is the link between the state and the individual and it’s up to me to look at that.”

Mr Baker courted controversy in 2007 when he released a book claiming that Dr David Kelly, a civil servant and former UN weapons inspector, was murdered for his role in revealing the dodgy Iraq dossier. An official report later said Dr Kelly committed suicide. 

The same year Mr Baker told The Argus that he had “doubts” over the death of former Labour foreign secretary Robin Cook. A post-mortem later revealed that Cook died of hypertensive heart disease.

When asked whether his past would affect his role, Mr Baker said: “I do not pay attention to that sort of stuff but if it’s controversial to call for an inquest to look into the details of an unexplained death then I’m guilty as charged.”

Writing on Twitter, former Conservative MP Louise Mensch described it as the “worst [Nick] Clegg decision ever and that’s saying something.”

Labour peer Lord Bassam said Mr Baker was “probably the least suited Lib Dem to be sent to Home Office”.

But Labour MP Tom Watson wrote on Twitter: “It’s actually a fabulously clever appointment. Both Clegg and Cameron have someone to sit on [home secretary Theresa] May.”

Paddy Power immediately offered odds of 250/1 of Mr Baker becoming Prime Minister and 50/1 in being appointed Home Secretary.

The bookmakers also gave odds of 10/1 that the Lewes MP would claim Elvis is alive in this parliamentary term.

Elsewhere Hastings and Rye MP Amber Rudd was appointed an assistant chief whip.

No other Sussex MPs were affected in the reshuffle.