PensionsAug 3 2020

Frank Field and Helena Morrissey to join House of Lords

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Frank Field and Helena Morrissey to join House of Lords
Frank Field, former work and pensions committee chairman

Frank Field, former work and pensions committee chairman, and Legal and General’s head of personal investing, Dame Helena Morrissey, have been appointed to the House of Lords in the government's latest peerages list.

Mr Field and Ms Morrissey featured on the prime minister's list of 36 individuals, published last week (July 31), who will be elevated to the House of Lords.

Mr Field chaired the WPC from 2015 to 2019 but lost his role when he lost his Birkenhead seat after more than four decades as an MP.

He had resigned the Labour party whip in August 2018 citing an "appalling culture" in its ranks and stood in last year's election as a candidate for the Birkenhead Social Justice Party. 

As chairman of the committee, he launched a number of inquiries into defined benefit schemes and the Pension Regulator’s powers.

He was also at the forefront of lobbying the Financial Conduct Authority to ban contingent charging on defined benefit transfers.

Meanwhile, Ms Morrissey is responsible for LGIM’s personal investing business. 

She joined LGIM in 2017 from Newton where she held the title of CEO for fifteen years, before becoming non-executive chairman.

In 2010 Ms Morrissey launched the 30% Club, a cross-business initiative to improve the gender balance on UK corporate boards, championed by the chairmen of those boards.

The proportion of women on UK company boards more than doubled in the following five years and there are now 11 30% Clubs throughout the world. 

She was also chairman of the Investment Association from 2014 until 2017.

The honours list was seen as controversial by many as prime minister Boris Johnson chose to elevate loyalists, including his brother Jo Johnson and former chancellor of the exchequer, Philip Hammond, to the House of Lords.

Philip May, the husband of former prime minister Theresa May, is also being knighted for "political service".

amy.austin@ft.com

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