Last week, South East London MP, Abena Oppong-Asare, was appointed to the position of Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office by the new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.
This announcement followed the results of the General Election on Thursday 4 July, which saw the Labour Party return to Government for the first time in 14 years.
In this new role, Abena Oppong-Asare MP will work inside the Cabinet Office to help implement the new Labour Government’s priorities and their manifesto commitments. These commitments include delivering economic stability, cutting NHS waiting times and cracking down on antisocial behaviour.
The Cabinet Office is located at the heart of the UK Government and its core function is to support the Prime Minister and the Cabinet as they work together to deliver Government policy.
Abena Oppong-Asare MP will be working under the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, and alongside other ministers in the Cabinet Office including Ellie Reeves MP, The Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, and Georgia Gould MP.
Responding to the announcement, the Erith and Thamesmead MP acknowledged the “immense responsibility” of working as a minister in the Government and pledged to “work tirelessly to help deliver meaningful change and to improve the lives of working people and families up and down the country.”
Following her appointment, Abena Oppong-Asare MP has made history as the first female British Ghanaian Government Minister.
Before the General Election, she had served in several prominent roles on the Shadow Frontbench including Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury from 2020 to 2023 and Shadow Minister for Women’s Health and Mental Health from 2023 to 2024.
Earlier this month, she was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Erith and Thamesmead at the General Election. She was returned at this election with an increased majority of 16,302 votes. She expressed her gratitude to all those who assisted her campaign and committed to serve all the residents of the South East London constituency.
Abena Oppong-Asare MP stated in her re-election speech: “It’s been an honour to represent the constituency of Erith and Thamesmead for the last four and a half years, campaigning on local matters such as better transport links, better health access, housing opportunities and many more,” and said “thank you for re-electing me to represent Erith and Thamesmead constituency.”
Responding to her appointment, Abena Oppong-Asare, MP for Erith and Thamesmead and Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, said:
“Following the election of a Labour Government on 4 July 2024, I am pleased to confirm that I have been appointed to the position of Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office.
“In this role, I will work inside the Cabinet Office on cross-government delivery and implementation of the Government’s priorities. I’m pleased to be working under the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, The Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, and alongside other Cabinet Office Ministers including Ellie Reeves MP, The Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, and Georgia Gould MP.
“I am deeply aware of what an immense responsibility it is to work in Government. I will work tirelessly to help deliver meaningful change and to improve the lives of working people and families up and down the country.”
