At just 29 years old, north London born David Lammy is Britain's youngest MP - and his promotion to junior minister at the Department of Health (DoH) is the first big post in what is expected to be a glittering political career.
The new parliamentary under secretary of state for health has taken less than two years to reach ministerial office following his election as MP for Tottenham in June 2000 at a byelection triggered by the death of Bernie Grant.
Although his new responsibilities within the DoH have yet to be finalised, the health secretary, Alan Milburn, has hinted that he expects to make use of Mr Lammy's expertise, experience of London political issues and his contacts in the black community.
"Representing a constituency like Tottenham I know how vital the NHS is to the community. As I've visited local hospitals and spoken to NHS staff I know the challenges they face each day and how vital it is that the health service continues to improve," Mr Lammy said on his appointment yesterday.
Christine Outram, chief executive of North Central London health authority, which includes Mr Lammy's constituency, welcomed his appointment as "wonderful news for Tottenham".
She said: "I have worked very closely with David Lammy since he became Tottenham's MP, He has become a valued source of support. He has conscientiously visited all the local hospitals, and has actively participated in discussions and decisions with the local health authority and NHS on the behalf of his constituents."
Mr Lammy was elected to the Greater London Assembly in the late 1990s, where he held the portfolio for arts and culture. His website lists his political interests as education, social exclusion, economic affairs and international development.
Mr Lammy has quickly established himself as an intelligent, articulate MP. He was appointed as parliamentary private secretary to education secretary Estelle Morris in July 2001.
He is a member of the all-party group on Rwanda and the prevention of genocide, the British-Caribbean all-party group and the all-party group on Aids. He is a trustee of the international development charity ActionAid and sits on the board of the Church of England.
Mr Lammy also has a reputation as one of Westminster's more glamorous MPs. He dates the youth and music TV presenter June Sarpong. His gift for publicity was underlined when he invited soul superstar Alicia Keys to the Commons in a bid to make it "more hip" in March.
Mr Lammy famously stole the show when he seconded the last Queen's Speech, a performance hailed by Tony Blair as "quite outstanding".
He had colleagues rolling in the aisles as he told them teachers referred to him as "a model pupil, but not a working model".
But his school days were not quite as he suggested to MPs. He won a scholarship as a chorister to King's school, Peterborough, where he went on to become the first black head boy.
He subsequently studied law at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, became a barrister in 1995 and in 1997was the first black Briton to study a law MA at Harvard law school.
Mr Lammy has practised as a lawyer in London and in California, specialising in medical ethics, negligence and commercial litigation.
King's school deputy head Trevor Elliott said: "David was a super guy. The English department was where he matured the most, where he would try out his ideas debating."
Staff at Downhills primary school in north London described their former pupil's rise as "truly inspirational".
