UK - Angela Eagle MP has become the 11th minister in charge of UK pensions, following a reshuffle of junior ministers performed in the wake of last week's cabinet reshuffle.

Rosie Winterton, who only took on the role of pensions minister in October 2008, has now been appointed as minister of state for regional economic development and co-ordination in the newly formed Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. (See earlier IPE article: Cabinet shake-up sparks pensions people changes)

Eagle was previously the Exchequer Secretary to HM Treasury, a post she has held since June 2007, but has now been promoted to the junior ministerial role of pensions, which will require her to manage the upcoming 2012 reforms, among other things.

She will be working again with Yvette Cooper who was appointed secretary of state for work and pensions last week from her position as chief secretary to the Treasury, and following the resignation of James Purnell. (See earlier IPE article: Cooper to replace Purnell as pensions secretary)

The pairing, the 15th since Labour came to power in 1997, is the first time both posts have been held by women, as Harriet Harman was the only previous female secretary of state and Winterton was the first woman to take on pensions.

Following the latest changes the shortest serving pensions minister remains John Denham with a stint of six months, while Ian McCartney has the longest record between May 2001 and June 2003, although Stephen Timms has served in the post twice.

The full list of changes since 1997 are:

Date                    Secretary of State    Minister

May 1997            Harriet Harman        Frank Field (Welfare Reform)
July 1998            Alistair Darling         John Denham (Minister for pensions)
Jan 1999             Alistair Darling         Stephen Timms
July 1999            Alistair Darling         Jeff Rooker (Pensions Minister)
May 2001            Alistair Darling         Ian McCartney
May 2002            Andrew Smith          Ian McCartney
June 2003           Andrew Smith          Malcolm Wicks
Sept 2004           Alan Johnson           Malcolm Wicks
May 2005            David Blunkett         Stephen Timms (minister for pensions reform)
Nov 2005            John Hutton             Stephen Timms
May 2006           John Hutton             James Purnell
June 2007          Peter Hain                Mike O'Brien
Jan 2008            James Purnell          Mike O'Brien
Oct 2008            James Purnell          Rosie Winterton
June 2009          Yvette Cooper          Angela Eagle

If you have any comments you would like to add to this or any other story, contact Nyree Stewart on + 44 (0)20 7261 4618 or email nyree.stewart@ipe.com

Topics