Hove MP Ivor Caplin has been rewarded for his loyalty to the Government with promotion to the key post of defence minister.

The news was broken to the Hove MP on Friday night as Tony Blair completed a major shake-up of his Government Front Bench.

The Prime Minister called Mr Caplin into Downing Street to make the appointment at 4.30pm.

Mr Caplin replaces Dr Lewis Moonie after impressing Mr Blair during his time as a Government whip.

The reshuffle is expected to be Mr Blair's last major change before Mr Caplin defends a majority of 3,171 at the expected 2005 General Election.

Mr Caplin said he was delighted by the promotion, which continues his steady climb up the political ladder.

After being elected as MP for Hove in Labour's 1997 landslide, he landed a job as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett.

The job of PPS is commonly seen as a training ground for Government.

After the 2001 election, the former leader of Hove Borough Council was promoted to the post of Government whip.

The role gave him responsibility for keeping tabs on South-East Labour MPs in crucial Government votes as well as a foreign affairs brief.

Over the past two years he has proved a loyal lieutenant to Mr Blair, helping the Government to fight off rebellions on Iraq and foundation hospitals.

Earlier this year, the 44-year-old made an early appearance at the Ministerial despatch box.