A journalist who began his career on a local weekly has been unveiled as the official spokesman for the Prime Minister.

Downing Street has announced the appointment of James Slack to the role with Theresa May, pictured left, following the departure of Helen Bower.

James, pictured left, started his career at the Mansfield Chad in the 1990s before moving on to the Nottingham Post.

More recently he has served as home affairs correspondent at the Daily Mail before becoming political editor of the national daily in 2015.

While at the Mail he worked on its three-year campaign to stop Aspergers sufferer Gary McKinnon, who was accused of hacking into 97 US military and NASA computers, from being extradited to America.

His appointment as PMOS – the position once held by Sir Bernard Ingham and Alastair Campbell among others – had been widely expected and was confirmed today.

A statement on the Downing Street website reads: “James Slack has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesperson.

“He will replace Helen Bower, who is taking up a new role as Director of Communications in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.”