'Tough task ahead': Shropshire MPs welcome appointment of new International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt

Miss Mordaunt, the only MP who is also a serving Royal Navy reservist, was appointed to the cabinet following the resignation of Priti Patel.

Mr Kawczynski said he was increasingly being approached by constituents concerned about funding shortages for public services, and said people were questioning whether it was necessary to spend so much money abroad.

"More and more people are questioning the ethics of the overseas aid budget when there are serious problems at home over funding for schools and hospitals," he said.

Mr Kawczynski said Britain's overseas aid budget now amounted to £15 billion a year, and it would fall to Miss Mordaunt to either make the case for why it was important to spend such a large amount, or to look at whether it could be better used at home.

"She has a big task ahead of her to try to explain to the British people why this massive budget is still in the British interests, while we are facing funding shortages and cutbacks."

He said Shropshire Council had provided support for a number of Syrian refugees who had settled in the county, and wondered whether some of the budget would be better used helping those people to integrate with the community.

"Britain spends much more on overseas aid than other EU countries, and more than 95 per cent of countries of the world. We are right at the top," said Mr Kawczynski.

"I buy into it to a certain extent, but the British people are not yet convinced that the £15 billion that is sent overseas is an appropriate amount."

The appointment of Miss Mordaunt, a sub-lieutenant in the naval reserve who once worked as a magician's apprentice to finance her studies, has been welcomed by MPs in Shropshire and Mid Wales.

They said Miss Patel was right to resign following reports she had not informed the Foreign Office about her meetings with foreign leaders while on holiday in Israel.

But they also believed she would eventually return to the front benches.

Telford MP Lucy Allan said: “I am delighted by the appointment of Penny Mordaunt, she is an excellent choice with a proven track record in government.

"As we approach the Budget, it is not the time for a wholesale reshuffle, however, there is plenty of talent within the Conservative Party and I would be pleased to see more people like Penny progressing within government in future.

"Priti Patel was right to resign. She is a great Parliamentarian and I know we will see more of her in years to come.”

Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin, said: "Priti was very popular and was a very good minister, but will be ably followed by Penny who is herself hard working and very able."

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies said he knew Miss Mordaunt well, and was delighted she had been promoted into the cabinet.

"I'm a very big supporter of her, she is an excellent choice because she maintains the balance between those who were in favour of remaining within the EU and those who were in favour of remaining. She was a very passionate supporter of leaving the EU."

Mr Davies said many people outside politics would struggle to understand the reasons why Miss Patel had been forced to resign, but said it was the right thing to do.

"Politics is a very strange business in many respects, and for most people it is probably a struggle to follow, because there are codes and rules you have to follow.

"Very often the public don't understand the need to resign, but it is best to do so, and I think if you resign quickly and don't make a fuss about it, there is no reason if you work hard from the backbenches that you can return to government.

"Priti is very hard working and a young woman, I am sure she will be back."

Mr Kawczynski also said Miss Patel was right to step down if she had broken the ministerial code. He said it was unlikely to be her last ministerial post, and expected to see her back in government one day.

Ludlow MP Philip Dunne said he had worked with Miss Mordaunt when he was a defence minister, and was pleased by her appointment.

"I would like to congratulate Penny, having worked with her at the MOD I have a very high opinion of her, and wish her very well in her new role," he said.