Gordon Brown has come under fire in the first few days of his premiership for downgrading a ministerial role he handed to a Bradford MP.

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe secured the job of Sports Minister in the recent Government re-shuffle replacing Richard Caborn.

But it was later revealed that the position was to be a parliamentary under-secretary position - a junior ministerial role which the Bradford South MP held in the Ministry of Justice.

The Conservatives last night hit out at the change.

Shadow Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt said: "Sport was previously represented by a Minister of State, but despite Gordon Brown's promise to get Britain fit for 2012, his first action has been to downgrade the role representing the interests of sport.

"We have already seen the Olympics role downgraded from a Cabinet post to just a Minister of State, and this clearly shows the low priority that Gordon Brown gives to sport."

Responding to the criticism, Mr Sutcliffe said: "It is not the title that matters but the position. It will be a very high profile role with lots of exciting announcements coming up. I don't see this as a negative."