Lisa Nandy on being the new Minister of Fun

Lisa Nandy has set out her top priorities in government as the new 'minister of fun'.

In her first interview as the Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, the Wigan MP told the Manchester Evening News that she wants to put football fans 'at the centre of the game'. Returning from Germany where, alongside pop star Ed Sheeran, she watched England beat the Netherlands to secure a spot in the Euros final, she visited Gigg Lane.

At the home of Bury FC, she spoke about plans to protect football clubs from going under, telling fans 'never again'. Speaking to the M.E.N. during her first ministerial visit, she also promised to get the new football regulator up and running 'without delay'.

She also spoke about how she wants to open up opportunities for working class kids in media, film, dance and drama. And she committed to reviewing how public funding for the arts is spent to make sure that the north of England gets its fair share.

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The newly-appointed Labour minister addressed officials at her new department in London this week, with staff from its Manchester headquarters watching online. But she told the M.E.N. that she plans to spend much of her time as secretary of state up in the north.

She also spoke of the importance of her role on the international stage and her pride in watching England win the Euros semi-final in Dortmund this week. But whether a win in the final on Sunday (July 14) means we get a bank holiday to celebrate, she would not say.

Here is the M.anchester Evening News's interview with Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy in full...

Q: Hi Lisa. How are you doing?

A: Well it's been a bit of a whirlwind, to