Following James Purnell’s resignation last week and Gordon Brown’s Cabinet reshuffle, the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Yvette Cooper, has announced her new Ministerial Team.

Jim Knight will join the Department as Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform; Angela Eagle joins the Department as Minister of State for Pensions and Ageing Society; and Helen Goodman joins as Parliamentary Under Secretary (Commons).

However, Jonathan Shaw remains as Minister for Disabled People and Lord McKenzie of Luton remains Parliamentary Under Secretary (Lords).

Yvette Cooper, who becomes the 9th person to occupy her new role since the Labour Party came into Government in 1997, said: “This is a difficult time. But my priority is to get on with the business of helping families and pensioners up and down the country, lifting people out of poverty and helping people find jobs. In the 80s and 90s, a generation of young people was abandoned to long term unemployment. I’m determined that won’t happen again.”