Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe has taken up a new post in the Home Office in the recent reshuffle.

Parliamentary Correspondent ANIKA BOURLEY spoke to him about his new front-line role.

For a minister thrown into a department in disarray Gerry Sutcliffe always seems surprisingly calm.

The Home Office has had its fair share of bad headlines during the past few weeks, being embroiled in the deportation of foreign nationals scandal, its chief being sacked, and illegal immigrants found to be working on site.

But for the Bradford South MP who was on his way home from his constituency office when he got the call confirming the promotion in Tony Blair's biggest and anticipated final reshuffle of his career, the future looks good.

If you are going to make your mark - the Home Office is the place to do it. It's arguably the department facing the biggest challenge.

Tasked with looking after home affairs and protecting Britain, it can be said he more than earns his salary as a Home Office minister. I know I wouldn't want that kind of responsibility.

From 8am it is non-stop for sometimes 16 hours a day, with meetings and briefings with ministerial colleagues, departmental staff and trips across to Westminster for all important votes.

Well, non-stop from when you get in the building anyway. Trying to get through security was a challenge in itself. Don't get me wrong - I'm all for security, but I wasn't allowed to stand and wait - I had to sit as "that's what is preferred."

After arriving to meet Gerry, who they only ever refer to as "the minister" I enter a encased glass cylinder. The door shut behind me and was told the exit door would only opened if I stood with both feet on the green circle. It was a cross between playing twister as a child and the Tardis from Doctor Who - I wasn't quite sure what was going to happen next and was grateful I wasn't claustrophobic.

Outside Gerry's office, more civil servants apologised as he had been delayed in a meeting, so I sat and soaked up what appeared to be a very relaxed atmosphere, trying not to laugh at everyone who seemed to forget he had a name.

Finally, there he was, the pride of Bradford. Sitting relaxed on his yellow criss-cross patterned sofa which I couldn't help but think should've been red. The chairs were red - it just seemed out of place.

The decor, left from his predecessor, will soon be gone, with Gerry choosing whatever he wants from the Government Arts collection - not the usual Ikea choice many of us opt for.

But the flatscreen TV will stay as Gerry admitted at a charity dinner with Alistair Campbell he "half paid attention and half watched the UEFA cup final." If you're working 16 hours a day, everyone needs a distraction.

Across from him was his private secretary, the civil servant charged, with keeping him safe, up to speed on everything and more, and possibly shielding him from media hacks.

To a degree it was like the TV show Yes Minister with civil servants surrounding "the minister, " phones ringing, and a white board diarying his every movement for the day - but Gerry is of a different breed.

It was a humbling experience to hear someone in his position - who was thrown into a high profile job only two weeks ago - admit "I will never know everything", with his charming open manner, a willingness to learn, and a determination to succeed.

Amid the joking, he became more serious, saying: "We have to be truthful. I'm not coming into an area that has been a glowing success but I will help with others to pull it through.

"We want to build a safe, just and tolerant society. Four of the public's top five priorities include asylum, immigration and crime - all issues this department deals with.

"The government can do so much but everyone needs to pull together and help society."

He's certainly under no delusion the Labour Government are going to win a landslide victory as in 1997 but freely accepts the party needs to unite and move forward.

"We have a sound stable economy and a better quality of life but people won't vote for a disunited party. The local election results were a kick up the backside."

His fierce drive and acceptance shone through acknowledging he had to deliver and his work was cut out. His responsibilities include prisons and the probation service and I'm almost certain everyone knows the recent prisons scandal. He made it clear he wasn't "apprehensive" and was lapping up the challenge.

I saw Gerry's Private Secretary leave the office, and thought I'd better leave fairly soon but I couldn't help but notice the big red box sitting on his desk - taking me off on a tangent from his new role.

It was filled with case work and departmental documents but it reminded me of Gordon Brown's budget box. Hmmm, so if the Chancellor's moving next door to No. 10 - has the Bradford MP got his sights on number 11? But he assured me, Brown's box was a darker red and the only other department he dreamed of being in was culture, media and sport.

"I've always said I'd like to be the minister for sport, " the Manchester United fan added.

"You can improve people's quality of life, it's the whole ethos of healthier lifestyles."

He wasn't even interested in being Prime Minister, although when I told him he'd get ferried around in a helicopter he smiled and joked "well that might be worth it."

"The pressure and intensity of being PM is intolerable. I am in a high profile role but I think that being the Prime Minister is too much."

Interestingly Gerry said he favours the US policy of a leader only serving two terms - but he wasn't going to expand on that - he's on the Government pay role.

But I think it is safe to say he won't be vying for Labour leadership but facing up to the challenges before him.

The power certainly hasn't gone to his head, he may be now under constant scrutiny - at least for the foreseeable future while the department sorts out its "issues" - but after our interview he said he'd walk over to the Commons to vote, instead of being driven in a ministerial car.

"I'm here to serve as an MP and even more to be a member of the Government I am honoured to represent my constituents. I think they are pleased I have done well and I have an excellent constituency team looking after them when I am in Westminster.

"The pace and demands negates the feeling of loneliness until I return to Bradford on Fridays for the weekend.

"I am proud of Bradford - it is a great example of what we are trying to achieve nationally."

It's easy to forget the world exists outside the boundaries of Westminster palace and get sucked into the Westminster village mentality - it's like a cross between university and public school.

Gerry says he has a "team of people who keep his feet on the ground" and it's certainly no lie. He's really no different from the man who came from a humble background, grew up and worked in Bradford.

The only difference now is he has a new title.