Hexham Conservative MP Guy Opperman has agreed to return to his pension minister post just hours after announcing his resignation.
Mr Opperman was one of more than 50 MPs to resign in the hours before Boris Johnson announced his resignation on Thursday, July 7, telling the Prime Minister that "recent events have shown clearly that the Government simply cannot function with you in charge".
But now he has announced that he will be returning to the role of Pensions Minister to "help DWP navigate the next few weeks, while we decide the appointment of a new Prime Minister". Speaking on BBC Four's Westminster Hour on Sunday evening, he said: "I was reappointed by the Chief Whip.
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"The Chief Whip was organising the resolution of ministerial posts... I was called on Friday and I agreed to go back. Not least because we have 10 days until the end of term and there is a number of things that need to be carried through and the government has to continue without a shadow of a doubt."
Mr Opperman told Westminster Hour presenter Carolyn Quinn that he resigned from his post "with great regret", adding that "there is an awful lot of very important business to be got on with", including oral questions in the House of Commons for DWP, regulations and the Private Members' Bill. He added that he has not spoken to the Prime Minister.
Following his resignation last week some industry experts warned that vital pensions reforms could be thrown into doubt. Kate Smith, head of pensions at Aegon, said Mr Opperman's resignation left "pensions in turmoil".
She said: "He was personally leading a number of initiatives to improve pensions engagement, including the pension dashboard and the pension engagement season."
Ms Smith added: "Initiatives to improve member engagement with their pensions were gathering momentum. These need to continue at pace to help improve understanding of pensions."
Tim Gosling, head of pensions policy at B&CE, provider of the People's Pension, said: "Mr Opperman's departure from the role of minister for pensions and financial inclusion is a loss for the pensions sector.
"During his long tenure, he's overseen a period of genuine change and progress for pensions. He leaves a strong legacy but also a full in-tray for his successor, including driving forward automatic enrolment and launching pensions dashboards."
Speaking about returning to his role, Mr Opperman said: "[I] have agreed to help DWP navigate the next few weeks, while we decide the appointment of a new Prime Minister.
"With House of Commons questions on Monday, legislation / regulations in Parliament the next 2 weeks, and the extra cost of living support for pensioners to be organised with the start of the cost of living support next week of £650, energy support grant of £400 in October extra £300 winter fuel payment and continued expansion and take up of pension credit, worth £3,300 on average plus urgent work on dashboard, superfunds, defined benefit issues, an outstanding ESG consultation, ongoing correction exercises, and three to four pending Private Members' Bills means that when the Chief Whip asked me to help until the new PM was chosen I agreed."
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