A little-known back-bencher has been given the job of overseeing redevelopment in the Bradford district.

Tory Andrew Mallinson, who has been on Bradford Council for just a year, has been handed the council's economic portfolio. He replaces Councillor Simon Cooke, who has quit to fight the Keighley seat in the General Election,

Councillor David Ward (education) and Kris Hopkins (health and housing), are to stay in their roles on the Council's powerful executive committee, despite standing as general election candidates in Bradford North and Leeds West, respectively.

Labour group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood attacked the move to bring in a back-bencher at a time when the economy of the district was crucial. He said: "This a portfolio which requires a great deal of knowledge and district-wide involvement."

Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton, who invited Coun Mallinson to take the portfolio, said it was temporary, until the election result was known.

Coun Cooke (Bingley Rural) said he thought it would be inappropriate to continue in the job as he expected to be Keighley's new MP. He added: "Whatever I had done I would have been criticised.

Coun Mallinson (Con, Keighley North), 40, has an auto electrical and graphic signs businesses in the town.

He said: "I have had a very quick and broad education in the Council."

Keighley Liberal Democrat candidate Mike Doyle said: "We know it is a Conservative target seat which always swings backwards and forwards - but until the Conservatives can produce scientifically proven canvassing data I think it is a bit premature and presumptuous."

Labour parliamentary candtidate Ann Cryer said: "Coun Cooke can live in cloud cuckoo land if he wants to.

"If I had been a member of the executive the last thing I would have wanted would be to drawn into the decision-making process, knowing I would have to stand before Keighley people, and the way they feel about being taken over by Bradford."