Liz Kendall has been appointed as the new secretary of state for work and pensions at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in the UK.
The role was previously held by Mel Stride, and Kendall’s appointment follows Labour’s landslide win in the UK general election held on 4 July.
Kendall was elected member of parliament (MP) for Leicester West in May 2010 and was shadow secretary of state for work and pensions from September 2023.
Speaking at the TUC Pensions Conference in London in March this year, Kendall said the Labour government will have a “relentless focus” on championing decent second pensions for all, so everyone can prepare for their retirement with confidence.
She added that Labour is “determined” to once again be the “pensioners party”.
Her appointment comes at a busy time, as the industry will be looking for Labour to advance key priorities within the pensions industry, including a promise to “review the current state of the pensions and retirement savings landscape” as per the party’s manifesto.
The role of parliamentary under-secretary of state (minister for pensions), which was held by Paul Maynard until Labour won the election, has not yet been filled.
Other appointments announced by Labour include Alison McGovern and Stephen Timms as ministers of state in the DWP.
Rachel Reeves, meanwhile, has been appointed as chancellor of the exchequer, a role previously held by Jeremy Hunt.
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