HARLOW MP Robert Halfon has been named deputy chairman of the Conservative Party in a speech about the post-election reshuffle made by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Halfon, who was appointed as George Osborne’s private secretary in 2014, will also attend cabinet as minister without portfolio.

The announcement comes after Halfon almost doubled his majority on Friday with a total of 21,623 votes, the largest majority for a Conservative MP in what had been a marginal seat in Harlow.