The Christian MP Fiona Bruce will be the next person appointed by the Prime Minister to speak out on issues of freedom of religion across the world. 

She succeeds fellow Conservative MP Rehman Chishti as Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, who resigned in September over the Government's Internal Markets Bills regarding Brexit. 

Bruce, who has been an MP since 2010, has long been a campaigner on religious freedom and human rights, raising particular human rights abuses in parliament such as in North Korea, Pakistan and Nigeria. 

She currently sits on the Joint Committee on Human Rights, which has recently asked for evidence on whether people feel their human rights were disproportionately impacted in the first lockdown by not being able to go to church.

Part of her role will involve continuing to implement the recommendations made by the Bishop of Truro in his report into Christian persecution around the world. Seventeen of the 22 recommendations are said by Mr Chishti to either be achieved or in progress. 

Campaign group Christian Solidarity Worldwide welcomed her appointment, saying: "CSW warmly congratulates Fiona Bruce on her appointment as the UK's Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. She is a tireless campaigner for human rights and we look foward to working with her."

The news has also be warmly recevied by the Coptic Archbishop of London, Archbishop Angaelos, who referred to her as: "A person of honesty and integrity who would be a strong advocate for all."

She is also chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission and vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief.