Prime Minister Liz Truss has appointed Alex Burghart as minister for pensions and growth in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Burghart has been the Conservative MP for Brentwood and Onga in Essex since 2017, and has served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the DWP since September. He was also a special adviser to former Prime Minister Theresa May.
He replaces former pensions minister Guy Opperman, who resigned from his position in government on 6 July, following exit announcements from more than 50 other ministers at the time, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Opperman had been in the role since 14 June 2017, and became the longest-serving pensions minister on 11 June 2022.
Patrick Bloomfield, partner at Hymans Robertson, said: “Further challenges await the new minister with the current cost-of-living crisis continuing to grow, but we believe there is an opportunity to make a strong and committed start to his role. Clarity on timing for key regulatory changes such as triple lock, the pension dashboard and the defined benefit (DB) funding code would be much welcomed by many, and a strong sign of the new ministers commitment to pensions as they begin their new term in office.
“We urge the incoming pensions minister to listen to industry concerns about implementation of existing policies. Pensions dashboard roll-out and DB funding regulations need an urgent rethink so their introduction achieves the long-term policy goals without unintended short-term consequences. We are also keen to hear his response on the Work and Pensions Committee’s recommendations on solving the gender pensions gap.”