Guy Opperman , after barely a day out of office, is back – though in a “caretaker” role for the DWP.  The Queen – rather than the Prime Minister is the boss.

Have agreed to help DWP navigate the next few weeks, while we decide the appointment of a new Prime Minister

With @HouseofCommons Questions on Monday, legislation / regulations in Parliament the next 2 weeks, and the extra cost of living support for pensioners to be pic.twitter.com/qogUBiNT4M

— Guy Opperman (@GuyOpperman) July 8, 2022

The agenda is a new one – more general care taking for Therese Coffey than the very “eccentric” agenda on view as recently as Wednesday’s appearance at the Work and Pensions Select Committee.

What’s left of the pension agenda is heavyweight…

Superfunds, Defined Benefit issues, an outstanding ESG consultation, ongoing correction exercises, and 3-4 pending Private Members Bills means that when the Chief Whip asked me to help until the new PM was chosen I agreed 3/

— Guy Opperman (@GuyOpperman) July 8, 2022

Maybe now is the time to force the pace on Superfunds, especially with John Glen out of the treasury?

And here is a rare insight into the relationship Opperman has with the “chief whip”. He will be helping out , doing the drudge on private member’s bill.

Clearly there has been a higher force at work over the past few days. Opperman started Thursday resigning and ended it in Northumberland , with a beer in the sunshine. This doesn’t sound the tone of a man going through a professional crisis, more a man who is very much in charge of his destiny.

The end of a very long day.
Back in #Northumberland pic.twitter.com/vj5vJsjrk2

— Guy Opperman (@GuyOpperman) July 7, 2022

I never really believed that the Pensions Minister job could be filled by a stand-in. Pensions are too esoteric, too demanding of specialist skills. Pension Ministers  need to understand state pensions and the pensions aspects of benefits. It’s a role needing an understanding of the complex dynamics of the vested interests who drive private pensions. That understanding does not exist with any other person currently serving in the parliamentary conservative party (in the Commons that is).

Junior Ministers are the salt of parliament, and I’m pleased that Guy Opperman is back, not least as we are co-hosting a meeting on pension credit on 18th July!

Dusk – the sun sets over Northumberland ending Guy Opperman’s first and only day out of office.