Ilford North MP Lee Scott is back on the House of Commons front bench after being promoted in last week’s cabinet reshuffle.

The Conservative MP is now the Parliamentary Private Secretary to new Secretary of State for Justice Chris Grayling.

Mr Scott resigned from the same post in the Department of Transport on the day of the tuition fees vote in December 2010.

He had abstained from the controversial vote after promising Ilford voters he would not support higher fees.

On the day he told the Recorder: “I am now on the back benches and I will fight for what I believe in.”

But Mr Scott said he has never been “unwelcome in the fold” of government.

He added: “I obviously did what I thought was right but it was 18 months ago and I’m honoured to be back.

“I don’t think one affects the other. I did what I had to do.

“I don’t bulls**t and what I’ve always said is that what you see is what you get and I do what I say I will.”

Mr Scott was as company director, sales executive, campaign director and professional fundraiser before being elected as the MP for Ilford North in 2005.

He represents voters in Woodford Bridge, Barkingside, Clayhall and Hainault.

Mr Scott said he is looking forward to working in the Ministry of Justice.

He added: “Chris is a fantastic minster and I’m looking forward to working with him.

“Crime and justice is something that affects everybody and it’s the general issues that I will be working on.”

Parliamentary Private Secretaries are appointed by ministers to assist them and track opinion in the House of Commons.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said he was “delighted” to be working with Mr Scott.

He added: “He is colleague of several years standing and I very much look forward to working with him as the Government continues to deliver on its priorities of reducing crime, reducing re-offending and reforming the criminal justice system to make it more effective and transparent.”