BeeHive > BeeLines > 2009 > June > Another pensions wicket falls
Another pensions wicket falls
Well, it’s time for another change at the top Pensions Minister-wise. Yes it really is that time of year again; I know, where does the time go?
Anyway, due to popular demand (you’re right, both Hilda and Harry Popular have written in over the weekend again), I feel obliged to record the latest changes at the top of the tree of our ever-changing pension system. Keeping track of the various pairings of ministers batting for our pensions has become something of a tradition for the BeeHive over the years and I know many journalists and other commentators have come to regard us as the Wisden of pensions in that respect.
So, and for the record, James Purnell’s resignation from the Cabinet late last week led to his replacement as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by Yvette Cooper. Therefore, and for the first time since BeeHive records began in 1997, we now have an all-female team facing the bowlers. Yvette Cooper and Rosie Winterton are the fifteenth new team at the top since 1997.
October 2008 to June 2009 wasn’t a bad innings for the last pairing I suppose, nine months is a long time to be at the crease. Mind you, my mole in Westminster tells me we may be about to be bowled a googly. Who knows? If there are any more developments today I’ll get back to you.
But, and for the record books, here’s the complete list so far at the time of going to press (it’s all go in pensions these days isn’t it?):
May 1997
Harriet Harman Secretary of State for Social Security
Frank Field Minister of State for Welfare Reform
John Denham Under Secretary
July 1998
Alastair Darling Secretary of State for Social Security
John Denham Minister for Pensions
January 1999
Alastair Darling Secretary of State for Social Security
Stephen Timms Minister for Pensions
July 1999
Alastair Darling Secretary of State for Social Security
Jeff Rooker Pensions Minister
May 2001
Alastair Darling Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Ian McCartney Pensions Minister
May 2002
Andrew Smith Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Ian McCartney Pensions Minister
June 2003
Andrew Smith Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Malcolm Wicks Pensions Minister
September 2004
Alan Johnson Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Malcolm Wicks Pensions Minister
May 2005
David Blunkett Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Stephen Timms Pensions Minister
November 2005
John Hutton Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Stephen Timms Minister for Pensions Reform
May 2006
John Hutton Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
James Purnell Minister for Pensions Reform
June 2007
Peter Hain Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Mike O'Brien Minister for Pensions Reform
January 2008
James Purnell Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Mike O’Brien Minister for Pensions Reform
October 2008
James Purnell Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Rosie Winterton Minister for Pensions Reform
June 2009
Yvette Cooper Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Rosie Winterton Minister for Pensions Reform
8 June 2009
Follow the BeeHive on www.twitter.com/PensionsGuru
Source: New Pensions Minister
Any research and analysis has been provided by us for our own purposes and the results of it are being made available only incidentally.
Bookmark this article what are these?
Notes
We are not responsible for the contents of any website, or any changes or updates to these sites, other than those owned by us. We are providing these website addresses only as a convenience, and does not imply our endorsement of the sites.
