Chipping Barnet MP THERESA VILLIERS has moved up the ladder in the latest reshuffle as she continues her campaign for better transport.

DURING the reshuffles, Parliament is awash with gossip and speculation in the tea rooms and bars about who will get promoted or relegated to the back benches.

Much of this parliamentary gossip can now be read on a variety of political blogs on the internet.

I have to say that it was a bit of a shock to be promoted by David Cameron to the post of Shadow Secretary of State for Transport in his reshuffle last week.

Since December 2005, I had been the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury and, although I was in the shadow cabinet, I was the number two on the Treasury portfolio. It is, therefore, a great honour and an exciting challenge to be promoted to the number one slot at transport.

I know that without the support of all my family, friends, staff and supporters in Chipping Barnet, my recent promotion would not have been possible.

Looking back on the job I will be leaving, I believe I made a constructive contribution to reforming our tax system and holding Gordon Brown to account on his economic failures - rising interest rates, increased levels of inflation, falling living standards and stealth tax hikes.

A key part of the job was the gruelling task of leading the Conservative front bench team on the Finance Bill which deals with the detail of the chancellor's annual budget statement.

I battled away in committee and on the floor the House of Commons, proposing hundreds of amendments. Most of these were voted down by the Government, but I was delighted when I was able to force a U-turn on Mr Brown's proposed new inheritance tax charges on trusts last year.

Although my new portfolio covers transport responsibilities for the whole of the United Kingdom, I will, of course, continue my campaign to improve public transport in Chipping Barnet.

For too long, residents have suffered because of poor service from the misery line': the Northern Line is still the most problematic on the whole Tube network. Now the Piccadilly Line seems to be rapidly catching up when it comes to the misery tag. For years, Transport for London and the Mayor have promised improvements which my constituents have yet to see materialise.

The recent proposed closure of the ticket office at Totteridge and Whetstone station is causing huge concern and makes people worried that those running our Tube pay insufficient regard to the suburbs.

I look forward to campaigning for better transport in Barnet and across the country in the years to come, and hope to share some thoughts and ideas on how to do this with Times readers. I am well aware of how important these issues are to so many.