Liz Kendall Appointed as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

08 July 2024

Image: Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) Parliament.uk

Written by Retirement Line

The new Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Liz Kendall as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

In her new role, Ms Kendall has overall responsibility for the business of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The DWP is responsible for pension matters including the administration of the State Pension and measures to help people plan and save for later life. It also administers a range of working age, disability and health benefits.

Posting on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Ms Kendall said: “A whirlwind few days in my new role as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. People have voted for change and we are determined to deliver our plans to get Britain working, tackle poverty and provide security in retirement… in every corner of our great nation.”

Elected as MP for Leicester West in May 2010, Ms Kendall held the post of Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from September 2023. 

Appearing in that capacity at March’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) Pensions Conference, she said that Labour would have a “relentless focus” on ensuring that everyone has a decent pension. 

Speaking of Labour’s pledge for a pensions review if elected, she also said: “Our review will look across the whole sector and at all types of pensions, including defined benefit (DB), defined contribution (DC) and public sector schemes. It will set out proposals to ensure savers get the best possible returns.”