A Norwich MP has left his government position to take on a party political role in the House of Commons.

Simon Wright, the Liberal Democrat MP for Norwich South, had been parliamentary private secretary to education minister David Laws, and his predecessor Sarah Teather.

He today announced he had left the unpaid role, which traditionally involves acting as the eyes and ears of the minister in Parliament, and has been appointed Liberal Democrat education spokesman in the House of Commons.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has made the former maths teacher co-chair of the Liberal Democrat Backbench Committee for Education, along side Lord Storey in the Lords.

Mr Wright said: 'Every child deserves support to succeed in life and realise their potential. That support includes investment in early years education, high-quality teaching and school leadership, and a focus on every child's progress. We must not tolerate the fact that the most reliable indicator of a child's educational attainment is their parents' income.'

He added: 'It's been a great pleasure to work with two ministers in the Department for Education who were equally determined to get the best for all young people - irrespective of the circumstances of their birth.'