Harriet Harman
Former Labour MP and Deputy Leader 2007–2015; appointed unpaid Starmer adviser in May 2026.
Last refreshed: 14 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
What does Harriet Harman's return as an unpaid adviser tell us about who Starmer is turning to?
Timeline for Harriet Harman
King's Speech: 27 bills, no RPA Bill
UK Local Elections 2026- What is Harriet Harman's new role under Keir Starmer?
- Harman was appointed to an unpaid advisory role by Starmer on 9 May 2026, one of several former Labour figures brought back into a consultative capacity.Source: UK Elections 2026 coverage
- What is the Equality Act 2010 and who introduced it?
- The Equality Act 2010 consolidated nine previous equality statutes into a single framework covering protected characteristics including age, disability, gender, race, and sexuality. Harriet Harman steered it through Parliament as Minister for Women and Equalities.Source: legislation.gov.uk
- How many times was Harriet Harman acting Labour leader?
- Harman served as acting Labour leader twice: from May to September 2010 after Brown's resignation, and from May to September 2015 after Miliband's resignation.Source: Labour Party / BBC
- How long was Harriet Harman an MP?
- Harman was MP for Camberwell and Peckham for 42 years, from 1982 until she stood down at the 2024 general election.Source: Parliament UK
Background
Harriet Harman served as MP for Camberwell and Peckham from 1982 to 2024, one of the longest-serving women in the House of Commons. She held senior roles under Blair and Brown including Solicitor General and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and served as Labour Deputy Leader from 2007 to 2015, twice acting as Leader between permanent elections. Her most lasting contribution is the Equality Act 2010, which consolidated nine equality statutes into a single framework still in force today. She was also a consistent champion of women's parliamentary representation via all-women shortlists.
On 9 May 2026, Keir Starmer appointed Harman to an unpaid advisory role . Announced on the same day as the Gordon Brown envoy appointment, it was read as part of a pattern of Starmer reaching back to pre-Corbyn Labour figures for credibility during a period of acute internal party pressure.