September 2012 has been quite a month for East Surrey MP, Sam Gyimah.

On Saturday 29th September Sam marries his fiancée Nicky Black at the Chapel of St. Mary Undercroft in the House of Commons, in the same month that he has been appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Prime Minister!

As Sam says, he is “juggling quite a few balls at the moment,” what with his normal constituency work, his new appointment and the wedding.

Since being elected at the 2010 General Election, Sam has served on the Speakers Committee on the Electoral Commission, been a member of the International Development Select Committee and was asked to join the Downing Street Political Unit in 2011.

“I think working with the Downing Street team led partly to my appointment as PPS to David Cameron,” said Sam.

“I got a call from Downing Street asking me to see the Prime Minister at an appointed time. I was invited into the PM’s office and he said he would like to offer me the job. We briefly discussed what his expectations were and of course I accepted - I had filled in on a number of occasions for his previous PPS so I already had a good idea of what would be required of me.”

Sam explained that the role of PPS is to be a bridge between the PM and the parliamentary party and to support the PM in his job, for example, helping to prepare for the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions, the highlight of the political week in Westminster. Sam said: “What really hits you is you still have your normal constituency work and then there is all this extra responsibility on top!”

Since becoming MP for East Surrey, Sam has supported a number of local campaigns, e.g. preventing on-street car parking charges in Tandridge and opposing a hard runway at Redhill Aerodrome. Sam explained that his new role will not adversely affect his constituency work.

“I am still working the same political week i.e. Monday- Thursday in Westminster then Friday and the weekend in my constituency. I hope that my new role as PPS to David Cameron will mean that where there are local concerns I can communicate them directly to those at Westminster who make the decisions as I will be working more closely with them.”

Following their wedding, Sam and Nicky are going on a week-long ‘minimoon’ before the Conservative Party Conference in October.

Sam said: “What with the coalition and the big national challenge of the economy there is a slight sense of trepidation at times, but Nicky is very supportive and I am looking forward to the challenges the future will bring.” For more about Sam and his latest campaigns visit www.samgyimah.com