Liz Kendall

Elizabeth Kendall was born on 11 June 1971 in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire. She attended Watford Grammar School for Girls, alongside Geri Halliwell. Her father, Richard, left school at 16 and studied finance before going on to be a senior official at the Bank of England. Her mother was a primary school teacher. As children, Kendall and her brother were encouraged to talk about politics and to get involved in community activism. Having originally been a Labour voter, her father became a Liberal councillor in 1979. Her mother was a school governor and Kendall's first political campaign was for a local zebra crossing. After leaving school, she attended Queens' College, Cambridge, graduating with first class honours in history in 1993.{{cite news |last=Prince |first=Rosa |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11630810/Liz-Kendall-full-story-of-the-outsider-who-became-the-Labour-leadership-candidate-with-the-mo.html |title=Liz Kendall: full story of the outsider who became the Labour leadership candidate with the 'mo' |work=The Telegraph |date=27 May 2015 |access-date=17 June 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617192815/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11630810/Liz-Kendall-full-story-of-the-outsider-who-became-the-Labour-leadership-candidate-with-the-mo.html |archive-date=17 June 2015}}{{cite web |title=Who is Liz Kendall? Labour leadership contender guide |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33642648 |website=BBC News |access-date=24 February 2023 |date=30 July 2015}}

Kendall joined the Labour Party in 1992 and, after graduating from Cambridge, worked at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) in the area of child development and early years learning. In 1996, she became a political adviser to Harriet Harman, and then became Harman's government special adviser in the Department for Social Security after Labour won the 1997 general election and Harman became a government minister.

In 1998, when Harman was sacked from the government, Kendall resigned and was awarded a fellowship by the King's Fund, a health charity. She also wrote a series of research papers for the IPPR and was appointed as the Director of the Maternity Alliance, a charity for pregnant women. She was unsuccessful in an attempt to be selected as Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Chesterfield at the 2001 general election, following the retirement of Tony Benn.{{cite news |last=Pollard |first=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Pollard |title=Hating Tony Blair: with a general election imminent, publishers are eagerly issuing condemnations of new Labour... |archive-date=30 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.newstatesman.com/200104160041 |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/200104160041 |work=New Statesman |url-status=dead |date=16 April 2001 |access-date=17 October 2010}}

In 2001, she returned to government to work for Patricia Hewitt, at the Department for Trade and Industry, and then followed her to the Department for Health, where she was involved in bringing in the smoking ban in 2006. After Hewitt left government, Kendall became the Director of the Ambulance Services Network, where she remained until 2010.{{cite web |title=Biography page |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511112058/http://www.lizkendall.org/about/ |archive-date=11 May 2010 |url=http://www.lizkendall.org/about/ |website=lizkendall.org |publisher=Liz Kendall |access-date=17 October 2010}}{{cite news |title=Liz Kendall profile |work=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/liz_kendall/profile.html |archive-date=30 June 2009 |url=http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/liz_kendall/profile.html |url-status=dead |access-date=17 May 2010}}

At the 2010 general election, Kendall was elected to Parliament as MP for Leicester West with 38.4% of the vote and a majority of 4,017.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2010 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-date=26 July 2013 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite web |title=Election 2010 – Constituency – Leicester West |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/c57.stm |access-date=7 May 2010 |publisher=BBC}} She made her maiden speech in a debate on tackling poverty in the UK on 10 June 2010.{{cite web |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2010-06-10d.485.0 |title=Tackling Poverty in the UK |publisher=TheyWorkForYou |date=10 June 2010 |access-date=23 June 2010 |archive-date=30 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2010-06-10d.485.0 |url-status=dead}}

She was briefly a member of the Education Select Committee between July 2010 and October 2010. She supported David Miliband for the leadership of the Labour Party in 2010.

In Ed Miliband's first reshuffle in October 2010, she joined the Opposition frontbench as Shadow Junior Health Minister where she served under John Healey. In 2011, she contributed along with other Labour MPs and former Labour ministers to The Purple Book, in which she wrote a chapter on the early years and health and social care where she proposed a "Teach Early Years First" scheme. Later that year, she was appointed to the new role of Shadow Minister for Care and Older People and became an attending member of the shadow cabinet.{{cite web |title=Liz Kendall |url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/liz-kendall/4026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316104909/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/liz-kendall/4026 |archive-date=16 March 2015 |access-date=26 March 2015 |website=Parliament UK}}

Kendall was re-elected as MP for Leicester West at the 2015 general election with an increased vote share of 46.5% and an increased majority of 7,203.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}

File:Liz Kendall, Bristol 2015, cropped.JPG meeting in Bristol]]

On 10 May 2015, Kendall announced that she was standing as a successor to Ed Miliband for the Labour Party leadership following their defeat in the 2015 general election.{{cite news |last1=Merrick |first1=Jane |title=Labour party leadership: Blairite Liz Kendall emerges as a fresh rival to Ed Miliband |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-party-leadership-blairite-liz-kendall-emerges-as-fresh-rival-to-ed-miliband-10000840.html |access-date=26 March 2015 |work=The Independent |date=25 January 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144727/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-party-leadership-blairite-liz-kendall-emerges-as-fresh-rival-to-ed-miliband-10000840.html |archive-date=2 April 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Watt |first1=Holly |title=Blairite MP Liz Kendall emerges as favourite in Labour leadership stakes |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/nhs/11382617/Blairite-MP-Liz-Kendall-emerges-as-favourite-in-Labour-leadership-stakes.html |access-date=26 March 2015 |work=The Telegraph |date=1 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402181936/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/nhs/11382617/Blairite-MP-Liz-Kendall-emerges-as-favourite-in-Labour-leadership-stakes.html |archive-date=2 April 2015}} Kendall was regarded by many in the media as the Blairite candidate,{{cite news |last=Shipman |first=Tim |url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/Politics/article1554574.ece |title=Blairite Liz in race to be Labour leader |work=Sunday Times |date=10 May 2015 |access-date=17 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518080941/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/Politics/article1554574.ece |archive-date=18 May 2015}} though Kendall stated she would like to be known as the "modernising candidate".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/21/liz-kendall-labour-leadership-election |title=Liz Kendall: Labour must ditch 'fantasy' that Britain has moved to the left |last=Mason |first=Rowena |newspaper=The Guardian |date=21 May 2015 |access-date=21 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528015050/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/21/liz-kendall-labour-leadership-election |archive-date=28 May 2015}} Her leadership bid was supported by Shadow Cabinet colleagues Ivan Lewis,{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Ivan |author-link=Ivan Lewis |title=Why I'm backing Liz Kendall for Labour leader |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/why-im-backing-liz-kendall-labour-leader |access-date=25 July 2015 |work=New Statesman |date=25 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725204652/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/why-im-backing-liz-kendall-labour-leader |archive-date=25 July 2015}} Chuka Umunna,{{cite news |last1=Umunna |first1=Chuka |author-link=Chuka Umunna |title=Why we are endorsing Liz Kendall for the Labour leadership |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/why-we-are-endorsing-liz-kendall-labour-leadership |access-date=25 July 2015 |work=New Statesman |date=26 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716151055/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/why-we-are-endorsing-liz-kendall-labour-leadership |archive-date=16 July 2015}} Tristram Hunt,{{cite news |last1=Hope |first1=Christopher |title=Tristram Hunt endorses Liz Kendall for Labour leader |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11617450/Tristram-Hunt-endorses-Liz-Kendall-for-Labour-leader.html |access-date=25 July 2015 |work=The Telegraph |date=20 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825031233/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11617450/Tristram-Hunt-endorses-Liz-Kendall-for-Labour-leader.html |archive-date=25 August 2015}} Emma Reynolds and Gloria De Piero.{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Callum |title=Liz Kendall turns photographer . . . and focuses on red tape |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/liz-kendall-turns-photographer-and-focuses-on-red-tape-66c3r9jx57d |access-date=25 July 2015 |work=The Times |date=21 July 2015}} Senior Labour politicians supporting her included Alan Milburn,{{cite news |last=Staff writer |title=Milburn backs Kendall for Labour leadership |url=http://news.sky.com/story/1507498/milburn-backs-kendall-for-labour-leadership |access-date=25 July 2015 |work=Sky News |date=24 June 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722032204/http://news.sky.com/story/1507498/milburn-backs-kendall-for-labour-leadership |archive-date=22 July 2015}} Alistair Darling,{{cite news |last1=Darling |first1=Alastair |author-link=Alistair Darling |title=Why I'm backing Liz Kendall for Labour leader |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/19/why-im-backing-liz-kendall-for-labour-leader-alistair-darling |access-date=25 July 2015 |work=The Guardian |date=19 July 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721225915/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/19/why-im-backing-liz-kendall-for-labour-leader-alistair-darling |archive-date=21 July 2015}} John Hutton{{cite news |last1=Blanchard |first1=Jack |title=Labour leader hopeful Liz Kendall gets tough on stripping EU migrants of tax credits |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/labour-leader-hopeful-liz-kendall-5843027 |access-date=25 July 2015 |work=The Mirror |date=8 June 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725161634/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/labour-leader-hopeful-liz-kendall-5843027 |archive-date=25 July 2015}} and John Reid.{{cite news |last1=Reid |first1=John |author-link=John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan |title=If Labour wants to win in 2020, it must choose Liz Kendall as leader |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/05/labour-win-2020-liz-kendall-leader |access-date=25 July 2015 |work=The Guardian |date=5 July 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809064526/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/05/labour-win-2020-liz-kendall-leader |archive-date=9 August 2015}} She also had the support of the Blue Labour Group within the Labour Party including figures such as Maurice Glasman and Rowenna Davis.

In June 2015, Kendall's leadership bid received praise from The Sun, who said that she is the "only prayer they [the Labour Party] have". The Sun also praised her for saying "the country comes first" in response to Andy Burnham who said "the Labour Party always comes first" in the Newsnight Labour leadership hustings.{{cite news |last=Allegretti |first=Aubrey |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/17/the-sun-backs-liz-kendall_n_7607786.html |title=The Sun backs Liz Kendall for Labour leadership after Nuneaton hustings... sort of |work=HuffPost |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812014005/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/17/the-sun-backs-liz-kendall_n_7607786.html |archive-date=12 August 2015 |date=17 June 2015 |access-date=20 June 2015}} Commentators from across the political spectrum said that Kendall was the leadership candidate the Conservatives would "fear the most".{{cite news |last=Liddle |first=Rod |author-link=Rod Liddle |url=https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2015/06/forget-jeremy-corbyn-im-backing-liz-kendall-for-labour-leader/ |title=Forget Jeremy Corbyn, I'm backing Liz Kendall for Labour leader (blog) |work=The Spectator |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919171545/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2015/06/forget-jeremy-corbyn-im-backing-liz-kendall-for-labour-leader/ |archive-date=19 September 2015 |date=16 June 2015 |access-date=22 June 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.the-newshub.com/uk-politics/liz-kendall-claims-she-will-be-the-labour-leader-the-tories-fear |title=Liz Kendall claims she will be the Labour leader the Tories fear |work=The News Hub |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630000322/https://www.the-newshub.com/uk-politics/liz-kendall-claims-she-will-be-the-labour-leader-the-tories-fear |archive-date=30 June 2015 |access-date=22 June 2015}}{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Fraser |author-link = Fraser Nelson|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2015/06/diane-abbotts-car-crash-sunday-politics-interview-shows-the-depth-of-labours-denial/ |title=Diane Abbott's car-crash Sunday Politics interview shows the depth of Labour's denial (blog) |work=The Spectator |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909215652/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2015/06/diane-abbotts-car-crash-sunday-politics-interview-shows-the-depth-of-labours-denial/ |archive-date=9 September 2015 |date=21 June 2015 |access-date=22 June 2015}} This claim was even re-stated by some Conservative politicians including George Osborne, Boris Johnson, Ruth Davidson, Anna Soubry and Philip Davies.{{cite news |last=Bloom |first=Dan |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/george-osborne-claims-labour-leadership-6414872 |title=George Osborne claims Labour leadership race has ruined 'a generation's work' |date=9 September 2015 |work=Daily Mirror |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017144515/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/george-osborne-claims-labour-leadership-6414872 |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015}}{{cite news |last=Cowley |first=Jason |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2015/09/george-osborne-read-full-qa |title=George Osborne: read the full Q&A |work=New Statesman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013054509/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2015/09/george-osborne-read-full-qa |archive-date=13 October 2015 |date=September 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015}}{{cite news |last=Settle |first=Michael |title=Davidson: Corbyn is neo-Marxist in Breton cap talking 1970s politics |url=http://m.heraldscotland.com/politics/13625812.Davidson__Corbyn_is_neo_Marxist_in_Breton_cap_talking_1970s_politics/ |work=The Herald (Glasgow) |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127070934/http://m.heraldscotland.com/politics/13625812.Davidson__Corbyn_is_neo_Marxist_in_Breton_cap_talking_1970s_politics/ |archive-date=27 November 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015}}{{cite news |last=Singleton |first=David |url=http://www.totalpolitics.com/features/450171/philip-davies-and39one-thing-david-and-i-agree-on-is-that-i-should-not-be-promotedand39.thtml |title=Philip Davies: 'One thing David and I agree on is that I should not be promoted' |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082358/http://www.totalpolitics.com/features/450171/philip-davies-and39one-thing-david-and-i-agree-on-is-that-i-should-not-be-promotedand39.thtml |work=Total Politics |archive-date=4 March 2016 |date=24 June 2015 |access-date=2 January 2016}}

Ultimately, Kendall finished 4th in the election, obtaining 4.5% (18,857) of the vote.{{cite news |last=Stone |first=Jon |title=Liz Kendall says she lost the Labour leadership election because she was the 'eat your greens' candidate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430070631/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-kendall-says-she-lost-the-labour-leadership-election-because-she-was-the-eat-your-greens-a6835011.html |archive-date=30 April 2017 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-kendall-says-she-lost-the-labour-leadership-election-because-she-was-the-eat-your-greens-a6835011.html |work=The Independent |date=26 January 2016 |access-date=8 October 2016}}

Kendall resigned from the Shadow Cabinet following the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader in September 2015.{{cite news |last=Larner |first=Tony |title=Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood resigns Shadow Cabinet after election of Jeremy Corbyn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010043109/http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/ladywood-mp-shabana-mahmood-resigns-10046551 |archive-date=10 October 2016 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/ladywood-mp-shabana-mahmood-resigns-10046551 |work=Birmingham Mail |date=13 September 2015 |access-date=8 October 2016}} She supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour leadership election.{{Cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2016/07/which-mps-and-meps-have-nominated-owen-smith/|title=Full list of MPs and MEPs backing challenger Owen Smith|date=21 July 2016|website=LabourList|language=en-GB|access-date=8 October 2021|author= Pope, Conor}}

At the snap 2017 general election, Kendall was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 60.8% and an increased majority of 11,060.{{cite news |title=Leicester West parliamentary constituency – Election 2017 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000784 |via=www.bbc.co.uk}}

In August 2017, James Chapman, former Director of Communications at HM Treasury under George Osborne, said, "We really need Liz Kendall to be the leader of [a] new centre party".{{cite news |last=Myers |first=Rupert |title=James Chapman is the Rogue One of remainers |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/james-chapman-daily-mail |work=GQ |date=16 August 2017 |access-date=29 September 2018}} Chapman had already tweeted his proposals for a new centrist political party opposed to Brexit, 'The Democrats'.{{cite news |last=Gilchrist |first=Karen |title='Democrat' party may be launched in the UK to fight Brexit |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/14/democrat-party-may-be-launched-in-the-uk-to-fight-brexit.html |publisher=CNBC |date=14 August 2017 |access-date=29 September 2018}} After stepping down from frontline politics, Kendall was a regular guest on BBC current affairs programme This Week until its cancellation in July 2019.

Kendall was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 49.7% and a decreased majority of 4,212.{{cite news |title=Leicester West Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000784 |access-date=22 November 2019 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC}}

Keir Starmer reappointed Kendall to the frontbench after winning the 2020 Labour leadership election. Following the November 2021 shadow cabinet reshuffle, it was announced that Karin Smyth would cover her duties while Kendall was on maternity leave.{{Cite web|title=Tweet from Wes Streeting, announcing the new Shadow H&SC team|url=https://twitter.com/wesstreeting/status/1467149254837915658|access-date=2021-12-04|website=Twitter|language=en}}

On 4 September 2023, she was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by Starmer as part of the 2023 British shadow cabinet reshuffle.{{Cite news |date=2023-09-04 |title=Angela Rayner handed new role as Keir Starmer reshuffles top team |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-66707569 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904151014/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-66707569 |archive-date=2023-09-04}}

At the 2024 general election, Kendall was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 44.6% and an increased majority of 8,777.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001328 Leicester West] In the aftermath of the election, Kendall was appointed as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-05 |title=Liz Kendall appointed secretary of state for work and pensions |url=https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/4332443/liz-kendall-appointed-secretary-pensions |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=www.professionalpensions.com |language=en}} She was appointed to the Privy Council and sworn into ministerial office on 6 July.{{cite web |title=Court Circular: July 6 and 7, 2024 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/court-circular-july-6-and-7-2024-8xk0bcjxm |website=The Times |date=7 July 2024 |access-date=8 July 2024}}

Since her appointment as Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall has initiated a series of reforms aimed at reshaping the UK’s welfare system. One of her primary objectives has been to shift the Department for Work and Pensions from merely administering benefits to actively promoting employment. In a speech in Barnsley, Kendall said the need to address factors such as health, skills, childcare, and transport, which significantly influence individuals ability to secure and maintain employment.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-23 |title=DWP must focus on work not welfare, says minister |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce78jer1wgko?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}

Kendall proposed the “Youth Guarantee” for 18 to 21-year-olds, designed to ensure that young people are either earning or learning. This program offers opportunities for training or employment, with the stipulation that refusal to participate could result in benefit reductions. Kendall noted the importance of early career engagement, saying that unemployment during youth can have long-term detrimental effects on job prospects and earning potential.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-24 |title=Young people who refuse to work to lose benefits, says minister |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp35r0v7q95o?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

A significant aspect of Kendall’s reform agenda involves tightening eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and incapacity benefits. These measures aim to save approximately £5 billion annually by the end of the decade. The proposed changes are expected to affect around one million people, particularly those with mental health conditions and minor physical difficulties.{{Cite news |last=Gross |first=Anna |last2=Pickard |first2=Jim |date=2025-03-17 |title=1mn fewer people to secure health benefits under UK welfare reform |url=https://www.ft.com/content/bf28336c-eb08-4aef-b424-ba7e3f1c0ec6?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-03-18 |work=Financial Times}}

The proposed disability benefits reforms have sparked considerable debate. Disability charities and opposition parties have criticized the cuts, labeling them as devastating and immoral. Organisations such as the Disability Benefits Consortium, Scope, and Mind argue that these changes could push disabled individuals further into poverty and exacerbate health issues, highlighting the potential social impact of the reforms.{{Cite news |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |date=2025-03-18 |title=Up to 1.2m people could lose between £4,200 and £6,300 per year from changes to Pip, Resolution Foundation says – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/mar/18/disability-benefits-cuts-pip-liz-kendall-labour-kemi-badenoch-conservatives-uk-politics-latest-updates-news?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-03-18 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

In response to the backlash, Kendall has emphasised the need for a balanced approach that ensures fiscal responsibility while protecting vulnerable populations. She acknowledges the concerns raised by disability advocates and noted the importance of reinvesting savings into employment programs to support those on health-related benefits, aiming to create a more equitable system.{{Cite news |last=Grice |first=Maisie |last2=Gross |first2=Anna |last3=Strauss |first3=Delphine |date=2025-03-18 |title=Labour unveils disability benefits cuts that aim to save over £5bn |url=https://www.ft.com/content/0cc2d3f0-7ed8-4ee4-aa41-313fd3fb4463?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-03-18 |work=Financial Times}}

Kendall’s tenure has also been marked by internal party challenges. Some Labour MPs have expressed apprehension regarding the impact of welfare reforms on disadvantaged communities. The historical context of previous welfare cuts serves as a cautionary backdrop, prompting calls for the party to uphold its commitment to social justice while pursuing necessary fiscal reforms.{{Cite news |last=Toynbee |first=Polly |date=2025-03-18 |title=I believe Labour cares about those in need, but it must show that. It can’t go on like this |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/18/labour-poor-people-government-cuts?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-03-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

During her leadership campaign in 2015, Kendall committed herself to the living wage and said the Low Pay Commission's remit should be extended to encourage more firms to pay it.{{cite news |last=Staff writer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33859523 |title=What is Liz Kendall's programme for government? |work=BBC News |date=12 August 2015 |access-date=2 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704061411/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33859523 |archive-date=4 July 2016}} She also said she would end the exploitation of care workers by preventing firms from docking the cost of uniform and travel time from their wages. She has also come out in support of worker representation on company boards as part of her plans for economic reform. After the Budget, Kendall commissioned the former minister Margaret Hodge, to undertake a review into the £100bn tax reliefs that firms are entitled to.

Kendall is a pro-European and has spoken in favour of rejoining the European Union. She supported an in/out referendum on Britain's membership of the EU, and wanted the Labour Party to play a leading role in a cross-party Yes to Europe campaign. Kendall also backed the NATO target to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence. She is in favour of renewing Britain's Trident nuclear submarines.{{cite news |last=Riley-Smith |first=Ben |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11653515/Every-major-Labour-leadership-candidate-backs-Trident-renewal.html |title=Every major Labour leadership candidate backs Trident renewal |work=The Telegraph |date=5 June 2015 |access-date=18 June 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618191816/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11653515/Every-major-Labour-leadership-candidate-backs-Trident-renewal.html |archive-date=18 June 2015}}

Kendall supports a two-state solution, but in 2015 she abstained on a motion recognising the State of Palestine, instead favouring the continuation of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process.{{cite news |last=Stone |first=Jon |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-should-not-have-voted-to-recognise-palestine-says-leadership-candidate-liz-kendall-10403675.html |title=Labour should not have voted to recognise Palestine, says leadership candidate Liz Kendall |work=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223192541/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-should-not-have-voted-to-recognise-palestine-says-leadership-candidate-liz-kendall-10403675.html |archive-date=23 December 2016 |date=21 July 2015 |access-date=21 July 2015}} She has been a member of Labour Friends of Israel {{as of|2016|alt=since 2016}}.{{cite news |title=MPs flock to support Labour Israel group |url=https://www.lfi.org.uk/mps-%EF%AC%82ock-to-support-labour-israel-group/ |work=The Jewish Chronicle|via=Labour Friends of Israel |date=22 September 2016}}

Kendall has spoken about education as a way of tackling inequality. She has spoken in support of expanding the academies programme and keeping the free schools initiative saying that focus should be on the quality of education rather than structures and that investment in the early years should be a priority over cutting university tuition fees.{{cite news |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |author-link= Andrew Sparrow|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2015/may/21/migration-figures-out-as-cameron-announces-crackdown-on-illegal-foreign-workers-politics-live#block-555de39ce4b04dea8dd8480a |title=Liz Kendall says Labour should champion wealth creation |work=The Guardian |date=21 May 2015 |access-date=20 June 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620202226/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2015/may/21/migration-figures-out-as-cameron-announces-crackdown-on-illegal-foreign-workers-politics-live#block-555de39ce4b04dea8dd8480a |archive-date=20 June 2015}} Kendall also said that more effort was needed in the education system to raise aspiration for the 'white working class young'.{{cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/29/liz-kendall-will-back-white-working-class-young |title=Liz Kendall 'will back white working-class young' |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227132952/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/29/liz-kendall-will-back-white-working-class-young |archive-date=27 December 2016 |access-date=5 July 2015}} Kendall has also said that as Prime Minister, she would order a review of National Lottery Funding to free up funds for early years services.{{cite news |last=Merrick |first=Jane |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-kendall-to-order-national-lottery-funding-review-if-she-becomes-new-labour-leader-10366260.html |title=Liz Kendall to order National Lottery funding review if she becomes new Labour leader |work=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094748/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-kendall-to-order-national-lottery-funding-review-if-she-becomes-new-labour-leader-10366260.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |date=4 July 2015 |access-date=5 July 2015}}

File:Liz Kendall August 2014.jpg

Kendall has advocated increased patient choice in the NHS,{{cite news |last=Rentoul |first=John |title=Labour finds its voice on NHS reform |work=The Independent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/02/13/labour-finds-its-voice-on-nhs-reform/ |archive-date=30 June 2009 |url=http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/02/13/labour-finds-its-voice-on-nhs-reform/ |url-status=dead |date=13 February 2013 |access-date=2 April 2014}} arguing "there will remain a role for the private and voluntary sectors where they can add extra capacity to the NHS or challenges to the system" and with healthcare providers "what matters is what works". In 2015, Kendall supported the £23,000 benefit cap.{{cite news |last=Demianyk |first=Graeme |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/07/02/liz-kendall-andy-burnham-yvette-cooper-jeremy-corbyn-benefits-lga-hustings_n_7712740.html |title=Labour leadership candidate Liz Kendall says back benefits reform or face 'decades' out of power |work=HuffPost |date=2 July 2015 |access-date=2 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213152300/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/07/02/liz-kendall-andy-burnham-yvette-cooper-jeremy-corbyn-benefits-lga-hustings_n_7712740.html |archive-date=13 December 2015}} Kendall also said she backs the principle of the two child benefit cap.{{cite news |last= Watson |first= Iain |date= 4 August 2015 |title= Liz Kendall: I'm an 'all or nothing' person |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33652204 |work= BBC News |access-date= 26 January 2025}} In 2024 as Work and Pensions Secretary, Kendall suggested that job coaches could visit inpatients on mental health wards.{{Cite news |title=Mental health patients could get job coach visits |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98y09n8201o.amp |work=BBC News}} In February 2025 in Kendall's capacity as Work and Pensions Secretary also expressed that she felt some people on benefits were "taking the Mickey", and that this is a justification for a push to get those on benefits due to less severe illnesses back into work.{{cite news |last= Nevett |first= Joshua |date= 7 February 2025 |title= Some on benefits are 'taking the mickey', says minister |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5gpyv4dnwo |work= BBC News}}

Kendall gave some support to David Cameron's proposal that the right of EU migrants to claim tax credits and benefits should be withdrawn, or delayed for a number of years.{{cite news |last=Hope |first=Christopher |title=Blairite Labour leadership contender Liz Kendall backs taking benefits away from EU migrants |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617164706/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11657740/Blairite-Labour-leadership-contender-Liz-Kendall-backs-taking-benefits-away-from-EU-migrants.html |archive-date=17 June 2015 |url-status=live |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11657740/Blairite-Labour-leadership-contender-Liz-Kendall-backs-taking-benefits-away-from-EU-migrants.html |work=The Telegraph |date=7 June 2015 |access-date=17 June 2015}} She supports the current points-based immigration system and backed tough rules on abuse of the immigration system but has pledged not to try and "out-UKIP UKIP" and spoke of the benefits of immigration in her own constituency.{{cite news |last=Stone |first=Jon |title=Liz Kendall says she wants an Australian-style points-based immigration system |work=The Independent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925171321/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-kendall-says-she-wants-an-australianstyle-pointsbased-immigration-system-10328214.html |archive-date=25 September 2015 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-kendall-says-she-wants-an-australianstyle-pointsbased-immigration-system-10328214.html |url-status=live |date=18 June 2015 |access-date=19 June 2015}}

Kendall has supported "radical devolution" to England to deal with the West Lothian Question and appointed Tristram Hunt to look at what powers ought to be devolved to England. In July 2015, Kendall came out in favour of English Votes for English Laws. Her leadership rivals favoured the formation of a constitutional convention to consider the issue.{{cite news |last=Grice |first=Andrew |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-kendall-urges-labour-to-embrace-english-votes-for-english-laws-10365086.html |title=Liz Kendall urges Labour to embrace 'English votes for English laws' |work=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405083421/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-kendall-urges-labour-to-embrace-english-votes-for-english-laws-10365086.html |archive-date=5 April 2017 |date=3 July 2015 |access-date=2 July 2015}}{{cite news |last=Gage |first=Christopher |url=https://www.politicshome.com/party-politics/articles/story/liz-kendall-england-needs-radical-devolution |title=Liz Kendall: England needs radical devolution |publisher=politicshome.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619203919/https://www.politicshome.com/party-politics/articles/story/liz-kendall-england-needs-radical-devolution |archive-date=19 June 2015 |date=24 May 2015 |access-date=19 June 2015}} Kendall has also said that Labour must oppose the 'tyranny of the bureaucratic state' but must also share power at every level so that powers are devolved to communities and individuals too.{{cite news |last1=Kendall |first1=Liz |last2=Nandy |first2=Lisa |author-link2=Lisa Nandy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/26/people-power-labour-political-vision-devolution |title=People power should be front and centre in Labour's new political vision |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506212020/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/26/people-power-labour-political-vision-devolution |archive-date=6 May 2016 |date=26 March 2015 |access-date=20 June 2015}}

Kendall has supported Labour's links with the trade union movement but has said that both the trade unions and the Labour Party have to change. Kendall said that if she became Prime Minister, she would reverse any changes to trade union and employment rights made by the previous Conservative government.{{cite news |last=Kendall |first=Liz |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/letter-trade-unionist-britains-trade-unionists |title=A letter from a trade unionist to Britain's trade unionists |work=New Statesman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622112912/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/letter-trade-unionist-britains-trade-unionists |archive-date=22 June 2015 |date=19 May 2015 |access-date=22 June 2015}} Kendall also criticised Len McCluskey for threatening to withdraw funding from the Labour Party were his choice of candidate not to be elected.

Kendall is a supporter of LGBT rights and voted for same sex marriage in 2013. Kendall said under her leadership the Labour Party would have worked with other centre-left parties to end the criminalisation of homosexuality across the world and spoke in favour of Michael Cashman becoming the UK's special envoy on LGBTI issues.{{cite news |last=Staff writer |title=Liz Kendall: We have a duty to push LGBTI equality worldwide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620095417/http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/liz-kendall-we-have-duty-push-lgbti-equality-worldwide240515 |archive-date=20 June 2015 |url=http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/liz-kendall-we-have-duty-push-lgbti-equality-worldwide240515 |work=Gay Star News |date=24 May 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=20 June 2015}}

She announced she was in favour of legislation on assisted dying in November 2024. Alongside the Labour government, she announced on the 17th December 2024 that the WASPI women would not be compensated as "no evidence of financial loss had been given".{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Peter |date=14 November 2024 |title=Cabinet minister Liz Kendall says she will vote for assisted dying |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/nov/14/liz-kendall-first-cabinet-minister-back-assisted-dying-bill |work=The Guardian}}

Kendall was previously in a relationship with the actor and comedian Greg Davies. They ended their relationship a few months before the 2015 general election.{{cite news |last=Saner |first=Emine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/may/20/greg-davies-making-people-laugh-fills-me-with-hope |title=Greg Davies Interview |work=The Guardian |date=20 May 2015 |access-date=21 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528114604/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/may/20/greg-davies-making-people-laugh-fills-me-with-hope |archive-date=28 May 2015}}{{cite news |last=Macintyre |first=Donald |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-kendall-is-labours-smart-articulate-rising-star-the-heir-to-tony-blair-10271517.html |title=Liz Kendall: Is Labour's smart, articulate rising star the heir to Tony Blair? |author-link=Donald Macintyre (journalist) |work=The Independent |date=22 May 2015 |access-date=26 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526223652/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liz-kendall-is-labours-smart-articulate-rising-star-the-heir-to-tony-blair-10271517.html |archive-date=26 May 2015}} In November 2021, Kendall announced she would take maternity leave in 2022 as she would be having a baby through surrogacy.{{cite web |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/leicester-mp-take-leave-embarks-6247303|title=Leicester MP Liz Kendall to take leave as she embarks on exciting new role – motherhood|work=Leicester Live|first=Hannah|last=Richardson|date=24 November 2021|accessdate=22 January 2022}} Her son was born in January 2022.{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/labour-mp-liz-kendall-bursting-with-love-and-happiness-after-welcoming-son-henry-via-surrogate-12522297|title=Labour MP Liz Kendall 'bursting with love and happiness' after welcoming son Henry via surrogate|work=Sky News|first=Siba|last=Jackson|date=22 January 2022|accessdate=22 January 2022}}

Kendall was sworn of the Privy Council on 6 July 2024, entitling her to be styled "The Right Honourable".{{cite web |date=6 July 2024 |title=List of Business – 6 July 2024 |url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-07-06-List-of-Business.pdf |access-date=8 July 2024 |publisher=Privy Council Office}}

Kendall runs five mornings a week.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33642648 | title=Who is Liz Kendall? Labour leadership contender guide | work=BBC News | date=30 July 2015 }}

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• {{Official website|https://lizkendall.org/}}
• [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05vrg77 BBC Radio 4 Profile]
• {{UK MP links | parliament = liz-kendall/4026 | publicwhip = liz_kendall | theywork = liz_kendall}}
• {{C-SPAN|95486}}

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