Southampton MP Satvir Kaur has been appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, following a major reshuffle by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Kaur, who gave birth just two weeks ago, shared news of her promotion on Facebook, writing: “Nothing like feeding your two-week-old newborn and suddenly getting a call from No.10… Hugely humbling and a total honour to be asked to become a minister, joining Darren Jones MP and the Cabinet Office team to help deliver and drive through our plan for change. Enormous thanks to Josh Simons MP for stepping in and covering for me while I see out the rest of my maternity leave.”
Her appointment comes as little surprise to Westminster insiders. Kaur has been a prominent supporter of Starmer’s leadership, often voting in line with government positions, including her opposition to a proposed grooming gang enquiry. She has also been described as one of Starmer’s “apprentices” within the parliamentary party, seen as a rising star in Starmer’s movement trusted with key responsibilities.
Kaur will now join the Cabinet Office team under the leadership of Darren Jones MP, taking on a central role in delivering the government’s reform agenda. While she will initially remain on maternity leave—with Josh Simons MP covering her duties—her ascent into ministerial ranks highlights growing trust in her by Starmer and the wider Labour Party.
Constituents and colleagues have offered congratulations, with many noting the significance of her appointment so soon after becoming a mother. The move is also seen as an endorsement of her work in Southampton and her loyalty to the party’s national programme.
Kaur’s new role is expected to see her work closely on cross-departmental projects, helping to implement some of the Starmer government’s key pledges. For now, she says she is focused on her family, but looks forward to “helping deliver and drive through our plan for change” as she takes up the post in the coming months.
