Work and Pensions Committee (WPC) chair and Labour MP for East Ham, Stephen Timms, has received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Timms has been the MP for East Ham for 28 years following 10 years as a local councillor, and became WPC chair in January 2020 after previous WPC chair, Frank Field, lost his parliamentary seat.

He was Shadow Minister for Employment from 2010 to 2015, and previously worked as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

Timms is also currently the Labour Party’s Faith Envoy.

Commenting on his knighthood, Timms said: “I’m very pleased [with the knighthood]. I’m not sure I’m more deserving than one of my colleagues, but I’m pleased and my 93-year-old mother is pleased about it as well.

“It’s been a huge privilege to serve East Ham as the MP for 28 years, with 10 years as a local councillor before that. We’ve seen a lot of changes in this area.

“I take particular satisfaction from the dramatic improvements in school achievement locally, made possible by the government reforms and progress that’s been since then.

"The WPC, which I chair, has got absolutely vital work to do as we go through the current cost-of-living crisis. So there’s a great deal more to be done in the years ahead.”

During his time as WPC chair, Timms has led inquiries on pension freedoms and the protection of pension savers, and stewardship.

He has also been vocal in urging the government to extend the Online Safety Bill and tabled amendments for the Pension Schemes Bill.

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