Leicester MP Liz Kendall becomes tech secretary in Starmer’s reshuffle

Leicester West MP Liz Kendall has been appointed Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, replacing Peter Kyle following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent cabinet reshuffle.

Kendall, who previously served as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, will now be responsible for leading digital initiatives at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Her new role comes as the government continues its digital transformation agenda, which includes centralising technology oversight within DSIT.

In a social media video released by DSIT, Kendall addressed her new team:

“I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be here and to have been given the opportunity and honour to work with all of you.

“I know from my good friend Peter Kyle, your former secretary of state, the incredible potential here, your huge determination to change people’s lives for the better, and I really believe this department can help build the future for people in every part of the country, no matter their background – and who could possibly want a better job than that?”

First elected in 2010, Kendall has held multiple shadow positions, including as a junior health minister. While she has limited professional experience in the technology sector, her political background is extensive. She also stood as a candidate in the 2015 Labour leadership contest.

Peter Kyle, her predecessor at DSIT, has moved to the Department for Business and Trade as Business Secretary. His time at DSIT saw the introduction of a digital government strategy intended to improve productivity across the public sector.

Alongside Kendall’s appointment, further changes have occurred at DSIT. Under-secretary for AI and digital government Feryal Clark has exited government, and Chris Bryant, who held the data protection and telecoms brief, has also transitioned to the Department for Business and Trade. Maggie Jones, formerly responsible for online safety and the future digital economy, has left her post, which remains unfilled.

Kanishka Narayan, MP for Vale of Glamorgan, has been appointed as a parliamentary under-secretary at DSIT, though his specific responsibilities are yet to be confirmed.

Poppy Gustafsson, AI specialist and founder of Darktrace, has also departed her advisory role within DSIT. She had been a member of the digital government panel after entering the House of Lords in 2024.

These reshuffle moves follow the resignation of former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and mark a broad refresh across departments. Labour’s digital government reforms continue after the January 2025 announcement that DSIT would become the digital centre of government. This change moved the Government Digital Service (GDS) from the Cabinet Office to DSIT, merging it with the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), which had previously been separated from GDS in 2021.

The government has maintained its focus on AI, with Keir Starmer committing to embedding AI teams into departments to take over routine tasks where digital tools can perform them more efficiently. However, the government currently lacks a designated minister for AI.

Image source: Elizabeth Kendall ©House of Commons