Disgraced former home secretary Amber Rudd has replaced Esther McVey, who resigned yesterday, as secretary of state for work and pensions, it was announced this afternoon.
Rudd was responsible for maintaining and enforcing the hostile environment for immigrants instituted by Theresa May.
She was forced to resign as home secretary in April of this year after it was revealed that she had misled parliament over targets for removing illegal immigrants from Britain.
Rudd was at the forefront of the scandal over the mistreatment and deportation of Windrush generation residents from the Caribbean, many of whom were denied benefits, healthcare and pensions.
It has repeatedly been claimed that Rudd was badly advised by her civil servants about whether there were targets for removing illegal immigrants.
However, a leaked letter from 2017 written by Rudd to Theresa May explained that she aimed to increase deportations by 10%, an aim which many people would regard as a target.
Rudd has consistently voted with the government on welfare benefits.
According to TheyWorkForYou, Rudd:
Consistently voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability
0 votes for, 14 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011–2016
Consistently voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits
52 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, between 2012–2016
Consistently voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices
0 votes for, 5 votes against, in 2013
Rudd is the daughter of a stockbroker. She attended Cheltenham Ladies College and Edinburgh University before joining American investment bank JP Morgan. She became an MP in 2010.
There is no evidence that Rudd has any particular interest in, or knowledge of, welfare benefits.
Rudd is the fourth secretary of state for work and pensions to be appointed by Theresa May and the fifth to hold the post in less than three years.
