BOLTON West MP Ruth Kelly has been invited to a special Buckingham Palace reception for young achievers.

The 30-year-old rising New Labour star will be one of dozens of successful young adults to meet the Queen on June 1.

The mother of one - who has a second child on the way - is a high-flyer and is expected to be a Minister before the end of this Parliament.

She will be one of the young adults from a great variety of fields and said: "I am very honoured to receive such recognition.

"On May 1, 1997, the people of Bolton West handed me the privilege of representing them at Westminster, so it is them I have to thank."

The former Guardian journalist and Bank of England economist said: "With the election of 101 women MPs and more young MPs, Parliament can now claim to be more representative than ever before.

"This, coupled with determination from a Labour Government that wants to break down many of the barriers that exist in our society and extend opportunity to the many and not the few, means that perhaps in the future more young people will be able to achieve what I am privileged to have achieved."

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