Abena Oppong-Asare

Apr 21, 2026 - 03:30
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Abena Oppong-Asare

Political career: Grammar, spelling and punctuation review and update. Americanism ('run for' office/position) corrected to match British English and political terminology - 'stand for'.

← Previous revision Revision as of 21:59, 20 April 2026
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== Political career ==
== Political career ==
Oppong-Asare is the chair of the Labour Women's Network.
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She is the chair of Labour Women's Network. From 2014 to 2018, she was a Labour Party Councillor for Erith ward on [[Bexley London Borough Council|Bexley Council]], serving as Deputy Leader of the opposition Labour Group from 2014 to 2016 and acted as the spokesperson on education.{{Cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2019/11/abena-oppong-asare-picked-to-replace-teresa-pearce/|title=Abena Oppong-Asare picked to replace Teresa Pearce|last=Chappell|first=Elliot|date=2019-11-02|website=LabourList|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-18}} She has also previously served as a [[parliamentary assistant]] and constituency liaison officer, and has advised the shadow minister for Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/house/house-magazine/108577/class-2019-meet-new-mps|title=Class of 2019: Meet the new MPs|last=PoliticsHome.com|date=2019-12-16|website=PoliticsHome.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-18}} Prior to her election, Oppong-Asare worked at the Greater London Authority, supporting GLA members to effectively represent the people of London. During this time, she led community engagement following the [[Grenfell Tower fire]].


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From 2014 to 2018, she was a Labour Party Councillor for the Erith ward in [[Bexley London Borough Council|Bexley Council]], serving as Deputy Leader of the opposition Labour Party from 2014 to 2016 and acting as the spokesperson on education.{{Cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2019/11/abena-oppong-asare-picked-to-replace-teresa-pearce/|title=Abena Oppong-Asare picked to replace Teresa Pearce|last=Chappell|first=Elliot|date=2019-11-02|website=LabourList|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-18}} She has also previously served as a [[parliamentary assistant]] and constituency liaison officer, and has advised the shadow minister for Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/house/house-magazine/108577/class-2019-meet-new-mps|title=Class of 2019: Meet the new MPs|last=PoliticsHome.com|date=2019-12-16|website=PoliticsHome.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-18}} Prior to her election, Oppong-Asare worked at the Greater London Authority, supporting GLA members to effectively represent the people of London. During this time, she led community engagement following the [[Grenfell Tower fire]].
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In 2019, she ran to be the Labour [[prospective parliamentary candidate]] in [[Erith and Thamesmead]] when the incumbent MP [[Teresa Pearce]] announced she would stand down at the next election.


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In 2019, she stood as Labour's [[prospective parliamentary candidate]] in [[Erith and Thamesmead]] after the incumbent MP, [[Teresa Pearce]], announced she would be standing down at the next election.
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In 2020, she released a report, Leaving Nobody Behind in Erith and Thamesmead, examining the impact of the pandemic on key groups in her constituency, including disabled people, people from an ethnic minority background, women, young people and those from a lower socio-economic background. The report was widely praised upon publication and picked up by local and national media outlets.

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In 2020, she released a report entitled 'Leaving Nobody Behind in Erith and Thamesmead', examining the impact of the Pandemic on key groups in her constituency, including disabled people, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, women, young people and those from a lower socio-economic backgrounds. The report was widely praised upon publication and picked up by local and national media outlets.


On 14 January 2020 she was announced as the [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to the new [[Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]], [[Luke Pollard]].{{cite tweet|user=LukePollard|last=Pollard|first=Luke|number=1217145781435666433|title=Delighted to announce the new Shadow DEFRA Team: Shadow Fisheries @RuthNewportWest Shadow Farming @DanielZeichner and shared with Shadow BEIS Shadow Waste & Recycling @alanwhiteheadmp. Whip @ThangamMP and Lords Minister @WhitchurchGirl with new MP @abenaopp as my PPS.|date=14 January 2020}}
On 14 January 2020 she was announced as the [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to the new [[Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]], [[Luke Pollard]].{{cite tweet|user=LukePollard|last=Pollard|first=Luke|number=1217145781435666433|title=Delighted to announce the new Shadow DEFRA Team: Shadow Fisheries @RuthNewportWest Shadow Farming @DanielZeichner and shared with Shadow BEIS Shadow Waste & Recycling @alanwhiteheadmp. Whip @ThangamMP and Lords Minister @WhitchurchGirl with new MP @abenaopp as my PPS.|date=14 January 2020}}
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In November 2021, the political monitoring organisation Vuelio identified Oppong-Asare as amongst the top three newly-elected MPs who tabled the most Parliamentary Questions that session.[https://www.vuelio.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/In-Focus-Autumn-MP-activity.pdf In Focus: Autumn MP activity] vuelio.com November 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2023 In June 2021, PR firm Edelman included her in their list of "ones to watch" from the 2019 intake.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}
In November 2021, the political monitoring organisation Vuelio identified Oppong-Asare as amongst the top three newly-elected MPs who tabled the most Parliamentary Questions that session.[https://www.vuelio.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/In-Focus-Autumn-MP-activity.pdf In Focus: Autumn MP activity] vuelio.com November 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2023 In June 2021, PR firm Edelman included her in their list of "ones to watch" from the 2019 intake.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}


In 2022, Oppong-Asare was included in the Women in Westminster 100 list to mark International Women's Day.{{cite web | url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/wiw-2022 | title=The Women in Westminster: The 100: 2022 list is revealed | date=3 March 2022 }}
In 2022, Oppong-Asare was included in the 'Women in Westminster: The 100' list to mark International Women's Day.{{cite web | url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/wiw-2022 | title=The Women in Westminster: The 100: 2022 list is revealed | date=3 March 2022 }}


Each year, Oppong-Asare holds a political and campaigning Summer School for local young people in which she invites high-profile speakers to deliver training and workshops designed at encouraging political engagement from those often under-represented.{{cite news|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/18634291.workshops-prepare-erith-thamesmead-students-school-return/|title=Back to school: student workshops to prepare children for September return|last=Oppong-Asare|first=Abena|date=6 August 2020|website=News Shopper}}
Each year, Oppong-Asare holds a political and campaigning Summer School for local young people in which she invites high-profile speakers to deliver training and workshops designed to encourage political engagement from those who are often under-represented.{{cite news|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/18634291.workshops-prepare-erith-thamesmead-students-school-return/|title=Back to school: student workshops to prepare children for September return|last=Oppong-Asare|first=Abena|date=6 August 2020|website=News Shopper}}


In the [[2023 British shadow cabinet reshuffle]] she was appointed Shadow Minister for Women's Health and Mental Health.{{Cite web |last=Belger |first=Tom |date=2023-09-05 |title=Labour reshuffle: Starmer unveils six new shadow ministers of state |url=https://labourlist.org/2023/09/labour-reshuffle-starmer-unveils-five-new-shadow-ministers/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=[[LabourList]] |language=en-GB}}
In the [[2023 British shadow cabinet reshuffle]] she was appointed Shadow Minister for Women's Health and Mental Health.{{Cite web |last=Belger |first=Tom |date=2023-09-05 |title=Labour reshuffle: Starmer unveils six new shadow ministers of state |url=https://labourlist.org/2023/09/labour-reshuffle-starmer-unveils-five-new-shadow-ministers/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=[[LabourList]] |language=en-GB}}


Following the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]], she was appointed as [[Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office]], where she served from July 2024 to September 2025.{{Cite web |title=Ministerial Appointments: July 2024 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2024 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} She led on national security and resilience as well as cross-departmental delivery alongside the then [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]], [[Pat McFadden]].
Following the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]], she was appointed as [[Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office]], where she served from July 2024 to September 2025.{{Cite web |title=Ministerial Appointments: July 2024 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2024 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} She led on national security and resilience, as well as cross-departmental delivery alongside the then [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]], [[Pat McFadden]].


In September 2025, Oppong-Asare was appointed [[Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister]].
In September 2025, Oppong-Asare was appointed [[Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister]].


Oppong-Asare is a member of the [[Fabian Society]] and of the [[Labour Women's Network]] (of which she is a Patron). Locally, she is Club Patron of [https://www.erithtown.com/club/ Erith Town Football Club], and also a Patron of [https://communityhospice.org.uk Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice].{{cite web |title=Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-ministers-interests/list-of-ministers-interests-november-2024-html |website=[[UK Government]] |access-date=3 September 2025}}
Oppong-Asare is a member of the [[Fabian Society]] and of the [[Labour Women's Network]], of which she is a Patron. Locally, she is Club Patron of [https://www.erithtown.com/club/ Erith Town Football Club], and also a Patron of [https://communityhospice.org.uk Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice].{{cite web |title=Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-ministers-interests/list-of-ministers-interests-november-2024-html |website=[[UK Government]] |access-date=3 September 2025}}


== References ==
== References ==
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