Torsten Bell reappointed as Pensions Minister

Torsten Bell has been reappointed as Pensions Minister in Prime Minister, Andy Burnham’s, government.

He will also retain his dual role as Parliamentary Secretary at HM Treasury.

Bell was appointed as Pensions Minister in January 2025 and has overseen the introduction of the Pension Schemes Act 2026.

The MP for Swansea West retains his ministerial position amid a period of evolution in the pensions industry, and recently unveiled an updated workplace pensions roadmap to provide a phased timetable for introducing reforms.

These reforms include the value for money framework, scheme scale requirements, defined benefit surplus release, and small-pot consolidation.

LCP partner and former Pensions Minister, Steve Webb, said Bell’s reappointment brought “welcome certainty and continuity”.

“It is good news that we are not to see a third new Pensions Minister in barely two years,” he continued.

“A revolving door in this key post creates uncertainty and instability in the industry.

“Instead, we have seen the reappointment of someone who has clearly engaged with the post and sought to bring a clear strategic direction to pensions policy.”

Webb said he expected the updated roadmap to now be implemented “with vigour”, and that it was highly likely that a new Pensions Bill would be brought forward in 2027 to implement the Pensions Commission’s recommendations.

“It is to be hoped that we are seeing a new and welcome era of certainty and continuity in pensions policy,” he stated.



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