Do we need a minister for cities?

Labour backbencher Diane Abbott has made a bid for shadow cabinet as the voice of cities. London and the inner cities do not get "enough representation" claimed Abbott, who is the MP for Hackney North. Abbott was in the running for the Labour leadership, but lost out to Ed Miliband, who told her it was important her "voice is heard is the future" of the party. We've had shadow ministers for rural affairs, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but is there really a need for a new minister of urban affairs? Rural issues have made big news stories: the foxhunting ban, flooding, GM crops. Do problems unique to cities justify an additional cabinet role? And don't forget Boris Johnson , mayor of London, who's got very different views from Diane on how to run the capital ... If you agree with Diane, what should a cities minister do? What sort of issues will he/she have to address? Let us know your thoughts.