MP Liz Kendall has joined a select band of opposition MPs who will sit at Labour leader Ed Miliband's top table.

The Leicester West MP was made shadow minister for care and older people in a reshuffle yesterday, 18 months after she was elected.

While she does not hold a full shadow cabinet position, she will have the right to attend meetings.

She was previously a shadow health minister but will now focus on how social care – such as help for the elderly and disabled people – will be funded and provided in the future.

Mr Miliband said the appointments showed that a "new generation" was helping take the party forward.

Ms Kendall said: "I was told about my new role yesterday morning and it came as a complete surprise.

"I'm delighted and honoured, as this is a hugely important issue which affects the lives of millions of people.

"I want to speak up for the needs of older people, their carers and their families."

She said her everyday experiences in the city would help determine her thinking in the new role.

"Social care is an issue I deal with every day across the constituency and my experiences in Leicester, as well as with my own family, will influence me," she said.

"Everyone at some point will worry about whether social care is affordable for themselves or their families."

Two other newly-elected MPs – Rachel Reeves and Chuka Umunna – made the shadow cabinet cut.

Mr Miliband said: "It is a changing of the guard for Labour.

"I think that it is important to bring on that new talent and I think it's the way we can be a Labour Party which properly focuses on the future, which is what we need to do."

Several Labour big hitters, including Harriet Harman and Andy Burnham, are moving to new briefs.

Former ministers John Denham, John Healey and Shaun Woodward will return to the back benches.

Other senior figures, including Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper and Douglas Alexander, retain their existing positions.

Neil Clayton, the chairman of Leicester West Labour Party, said: "We're all absolutely delighted that Liz has been promoted.

"It's a reflection of the excellent work that she has done over the past year.

"She'll continue to do a great job of scrutinising the actions of the Tory/Lib Dem Government, and representing local people in Parliament."