news story

8th January 2009

Key New Role for West MP

In a reshuffle of Liberal Democrat shadow cabinet responsibilities, Northavon MP Steve Webb is to shadow the Department for Work and Pensions, already the largest spending Government department and set to become a key focus during the present economic downturn.

The MP will also form part of a small group of advisors on economic issues who will meet on a regular basis with party leader Nick Clegg to consider the best policy response to the Recession.

The new role will draw on Steve Webb's experience of nine years working as an economist for the highly respected Institute for Fiscal Studies and his subsequent time as Professor of Social Policy at Bath University. Since being elected in 1997, the MP has focused extensively on work and pensions issues, most recently securing Government concessions worth over £100 million in his campaigns on behalf of women pensioners.

Commenting on the announcement, Steve Webb said:

"With all the economic pressures facing local people, I am pleased to have the opportunity in Parliament to play my part in pressing for effective action by the Government, especially in the areas of employment and social security. Whilst part of the down-turn is due to global factors, part of it is home-made and is due to mismanagement of the UK economy.

"I have already criticised the temporary VAT cut announced last month, when the money could have been spent much more effectively to create jobs and to invest in a more sustainable future for our economy.

"In my new role I will be working closely alongside Vince Cable who warned the Government about the dangers of building an economy based on debt. I am very much looking forward to getting stuck in to the wide range of issues covered by the DWP".