Ealing Southall MP Deirdre Costigan has landed a new role as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade as part of Prime Minister Andy Burnham government reshuffle.
The appointment announced today (27 July 2026) sees Ms Costigan leave the Government Whips’ Office, where she has served since joining the Government last year, to take up a role in the department responsible for business, industry, science and trade.
The unpaid Parliamentary Private Secretary role involves supporting government ministers and is often viewed as a stepping stone to ministerial office.
It marks another step for the former Northolt councillor, who was first elected to represent Ealing Southall in 2024 after the retirement of long-serving MP Virendra Sharma. Since arriving in Westminster Ms Costigan has moved quickly into government, first as an assistant whip in September 2025, then as Junior Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury in May 2026 before this latest appointment.
The appointment also means two of Ealing’s three Labour MPs now hold ministerial roles. Last week, Ealing North MP James Murray was appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasury following his departure as Health Secretary.
