Two Wirral MPs given roles in new Labour government

'We have a lot of work to do and the situation is serious'

Two Wirral MPs given roles in new Labour government

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Two Wirral MPs have been given two ministerial roles within the new Labour government.

Birkenhead MP Alison McGovern was appointed on July 8 as a minister within the Department for Work and Pensions. She was previously the Shadow Minister for Employment when the Labour Party was in opposition before the 2024 General Election.

Wallasey MP Dame Angela Eagle DBE was also appointed as a minister in the Home Office. She has previously held roles in government over the environment, transport, social security, home affairs, and in the treasury between 1997 and 2009 and was the Minister for State for Pensions and Ageing Society between 2009 and 2010.

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The appointments followed both MPs being decisively re-elected in the general election that was held on July 4. This saw millions of voters go to the polls and Labour win every seat in Wirral and 411 in total across the country.

Speaking to the ECHO after the election result, Alison McGovern, Birkenhead’s first female MP, thanked those who voted for her, adding: “We have a lot of work to do and the situation is serious after 14 years of Conservative chaos.”

She said: “I want to see more homes built here. We’ve got areas of dereliction and that’s really got to be dealt with. Young people need a place to live.

“We also need good jobs. I think we can bring in more good jos, particularly in engineering, and rebuild our engineering."

In her victory speech, long-standing Wallasey MP Angela Eagle who has been an MP since 1992 said: “We face dark times and challenging threats in a world that is volatile, in a situation where we have war in Europe and we have to tackle and deal with climate change, Putin, and populism.”

She said: “I think now is the time to start to deliver the change that people have voted for,” adding: “They have chosen change and they have chosen hope and unity over division.”

Ms McGovern will serve under Secretary of Statement for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall while Ms Eagle will serve under Secretary of State for the Home Department Yvette Cooper.

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