Ealing Southall MP Deirdre Costigan has been appointed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

The appointment, as part of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government reshuffle, sees Ms Costigan take on a new role supporting ministers on business, innovation, science and trade policy.

Parliamentary Private Secretaries are unpaid government aides who work closely with ministers. Although they are not members of the Government, they act as a link between ministers and MPs and often gain valuable experience of how government departments operate.

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Ms Costigan was elected as the Labour MP for Ealing Southall at the 2024 General Election. Since entering Parliament, she has served in a Parliamentary Private Secretary role within the Department of Health and Social Care.

The government reshuffle included a number of ministerial and parliamentary appointments, with several MPs taking on new responsibilities across Whitehall.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade was created as part of the Prime Minister’s reorganisation of government departments. It brings together responsibilities for business, innovation, scientific research and trade under a single department.

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Ms Costigan's appointment marks another step in her parliamentary career as she takes on responsibilities supporting ministers in one of the Government's key policy departments.

The MP has not yet commented publicly on her appointment, which comes as part of wider changes following the Government reshuffle.

Photo credit: House of Commons/Roger Harris