On the go: Norwich North MP Chloe Smith has been named secretary of state for work and pensions amid Liz Truss’s cabinet reshuffle.
Truss, who was sworn into her new role as prime minister on September 6, made a series of appointments on Monday evening, including Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor of the exchequer.
Smith will take over the role left vacant by Thérèse Coffey, who has been appointed health secretary and deputy prime minister.
Smith, who served for a year as minister for disabled people, health and work, took to Twitter to say she is “delighted to be asked to serve by the new prime minister”.
“We have a bold plan for the serious challenges we face, and I’m excited to lead the Department for Work and Pensions as we get the UK working, building and growing.”
I'm delighted to be asked to serve by the new Prime Minister, my Norfolk colleague and friend. We have a bold plan for the serious challenges we face, and I'm excited to lead the Department for Work and Pensions as we get the UK working, building and growing. https://t.co/AY7jxIX00z
— Chloe Smith (@NorwichChloe) September 6, 2022
Quilter head of retirement policy Jon Greer said Smith will “need time in the role to ensure that any changes in policy are carefully planned and crucially don’t create unintended consequences down the road”, since “pensions, by their very nature, are long term and complicated”.
“The government as a whole, but particularly the DWP, needs stability, as otherwise the public simply will not have any faith in any enacted policy being seen through to the end,” he said.
Greer added that the new work and pensions secretary “will understand how complex the DWP is, having served as minister for disabled people, health and work”.
“However, she has a mammoth task on her hands as we enter into one of the most difficult winters of many people’s lives,” he said.
“It is during these hard times that people come to rely more and more on help from the state, which is often co-ordinated by the DWP.
“She may ultimately see this new role as a poisoned chalice as a result if mistakes are made.”
In the pensions space, Greer pointed out “a number of projects and policies to be completed, such as the upcoming pensions dashboards”.
He added: “There still needs to be a lot of change within pensions, but this will require cross-departmental collaboration between Smith and new chancellor Kwarteng in the Treasury.
“Progress in relation to pensions has been hampered by the political backdrop, such as Brexit, Tory infighting and the pandemic.
“With the cost of living crisis rearing its ugly head, we still have to wait for meaningful change for some time yet.”
