Liz Kendall has been named secretary of state for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in Starmer’s new government but a pensions minister is yet to be announced.
Kendall has been a member of parliament for Leicester West since 2010 and has served as Labour’s shadow secretary of state for work and pensions since September 2023.
Her career has included roles as director of the Ambulance Service Network and the Maternity Alliance charity, as well as positions at the Institute for Public Policy Research and the King’s Fund.
Kendall was a Labour leadership candidate in 2015, aiming to replace Ed Miliband, but finished last with 4.5 per cent of the vote, losing to Jeremy Corbyn.
Kendall’s plans for the DWP include addressing the main causes of unemployment and increasing opportunities. She plans to “have a relentless focus on helping more people get work, and get on at work,” by providing targeted support and creating healthier workplaces.
She vows to “improve the quality of work and make work pay,” with a decent living wage and flexible working. She promises young people, “We will invest in you and help you build a better future,” by providing mental health support, career advice, skills training, and greater employment opportunities for young people with disabilities.
