David Cameron welcomes David Freud to the Conservative Front Bench

David Freud, the Government’s chief adviser on welfare reform, has joined the Conservatives’ Front Bench as Shadow Minister for Welfare Reform following an invitation from David Cameron.

He resigned his Government post to work with Theresa May, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, and drive forward the Conservatives’ welfare reform agenda.

David Cameron described David as a “hugely impressive figure” and said his experience inside and outside of government will help us deliver our radical welfare reform programme to get Britain back to work.

There are likely to be more people on welfare than ever before by the end of the recession – and David stressed that ensuring those who lose their jobs do not become long-term unemployed will be “one of the most important challenges” for the next government:

“I am therefore delighted to accept David Cameron's invitation to join the Conservative team to work further on the solutions that will be needed."