In that role she had overall responsibility for the Finance Bill, HM Revenue and Customs and both European and international tax issues.
Prior to joining the Treasury, Ms Kennedy, who has been an MP in Liverpool since 1992 – first for Broadgreen and, since 1997, for Wavertree – held ministerial roles at the department of health (from 2005-06), department for work and pensions (2004-05) and the Northern Ireland office (2001-04).
And, she has also acted as parliamentary secretary in the Lord Chancellor's department, spent time as a government whip and served on the administration select committee.
Before becoming an MP, Ms Kennedy, 50, worked as a residential care officer and a care assistant for Liverpool city council and was branch secretary and area organiser for National Union of Public Employees.
As well as her responsibilities for waste and recycling, her portfolio will also cover a broad range of other topics, among them working with the Environment Agency, water, flooding, the food chain programme and animal disease and welfare.
The second new Defra minister, Lord Hunt – who will also have a role in the newly-formed Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) (see letsrecycle.com story) – will principally be responsible for sustainability issues, climate change adaptation and environmental regulation.
And, the third new appointment, Huw Irranca-Davies, has been named minister for the natural and marine environment, wildlife and rural affairs.
Following the appointments, Hilary Benn, the secretary of state for the environment, said: “”I am delighted to welcome the new team to Defra and I look forward to working with them on all the challenges that lie ahead, from food production and supporting a thriving farming sector, to tackling waste and improving our natural environment.”
The portfolio's for Joan Ruddock and the other ministerial appointments made to the DECC are yet to be revealed.
Conservatives
However, the Conservatives have announced their team to shadow the new department, with former shadow minister for charities, Greg Clark, joining the shadow cabinet as shadow secretary of state for energy and climate change.
He is joined by Greg Barker, who will be shadow minister for climate change, and Charles Hendry who takes the role of shadow minister for energy.
Green Alliance
The decision to create the new department for energy and climate change has already been questioned by environmental campaigning group the Green Alliance, who raised concerns that it might weaken Defra.
The Alliance's director, Stephen Hale, said: “The new structure clearly diminishes Defra's clout in Whitehall, and increases the sense that the wider environmental agenda and the sustainable development narrative are being marginalised by climate change.
“Hilary Benn and the optimists will argue that we now have two cabinet ministers fighting the environmental corner. Let's hope they're right,” he added.
Subscribe for free