South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss has bagged a top government job under new prime minister Boris Johnson.

Eastern Daily Press: Liz Truss arriving for a meeting with the new Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Downing Street. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA WireLiz Truss arriving for a meeting with the new Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Downing Street. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

Ms Truss, who campaigned passionately for Mr Johnson during the leadership race, has been handed the job of international trade secretary in return for her loyalty.

Under Theresa May Ms Truss had been chief secretary to the treasury.

She had been tipped for chancellor or even foreign secretary but those posts went to Sajid Javid and Dominic Raab respectively.

The appointments came as Mr Johnson staged a major overhaul of Theresa May's government, with more than half of her cabinet either quitting or being sacked.

Eastern Daily Press: Liz Truss on College Green in London, after it has been announced that Boris Johnson has won the leadership ballot. Photo: Kirsty O'Connor/PA WireLiz Truss on College Green in London, after it has been announced that Boris Johnson has won the leadership ballot. Photo: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire

When Tory big-hitters were still deciding which horse to back - or whether to line up in the leadership starting gates themselves - Ms Truss was striding tall alongside Mr Johnson.

She fell in behind Mr Johnson from the start, and was among those doing his batting when allegations about his private life surfaced mid-campaign.

Ms Truss boasts an impressive CV, defying her upbringing by left-leaning parents to hold posts as education minister, secretary of state for the environment and justice secretary in Conservative governments.

Away from politics, Ms Truss's flair for social media has seen her offer an insight into the woman behind the politician by updating her Instagram account with pictures of her relaxing at the beach, or behind the scenes at official events.

Eastern Daily Press: Liz Truss on College Green in London, after it has been announced that Boris Johnson has won the leadership ballot. Photo: Kirsty O'Connor/PA WireLiz Truss on College Green in London, after it has been announced that Boris Johnson has won the leadership ballot. Photo: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire

Infamously, the worlds of social media and politics combined in 2014, when her improbably enthusiastic speech about opening pork markets in Beijing went viral - pilloried on satirical programmes such as Have I Got News For You?

Ms Truss, who is married with two children, was brought up in Yorkshire and studied philosophy, politics and economics at Merton College, Oxford, where she became president of the University Liberal Democrats.

She previously worked in the energy and telecommunications industry and is a qualified management accountant.

The 43-year-old entered parliament in 2010 and backed the campaign for Britain to remain in the EU.

Elsewhere in the region Matt Hancock, MP for West Suffolk, kept his health secretary job, while Brandon Lewis, MP for Great Yarmouth lost his role as party chairman to Braintree's James Cleverly.

Mr Lewis was made a Home Office minister of state, and will attend cabinet meetings.