The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls (also known as the Minister for Safeguarding) is a junior ministerial role in His Majesty's Government, held jointly in the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice. The post was created in its current form in July 2024, succeeding earlier iterations of the safeguarding brief.
Responsibilities
The minister is responsible for:
- Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), including domestic abuse, FGM, forced marriage, child sexual abuse and exploitation, sexual violence, stalking, and prostitution
- The Disclosure and Barring Service
- The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
- Hate crime
- Crime prevention and early youth intervention
- Victim support
- The rape review and victims elements of RASSO (Rape and Serious Sexual Offences)
List of officeholders
| Name | Term | Party | Government |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding | |||
| Victoria Atkins | Nov 2017 – Sep 2021 | Conservative | May II / Johnson I & II |
| Rachel Maclean | Sep 2021 – Jul 2022 | Conservative | Johnson II |
| Amanda Solloway | Jul 2022 – Sep 2022 | Conservative | Johnson II |
| Mims Davies | Sep 2022 – Oct 2022 | Conservative | Truss |
| Sarah Dines | Oct 2022 – Nov 2023 | Conservative | Sunak |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Victims and Safeguarding | |||
| Laura Farris | Nov 2023 – Jul 2024 | Conservative | Sunak |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls | |||
| Jess Phillips | Jul 2024 – May 2026 | Labour | Starmer |
| Natalie Fleet | May 2026 – Jul 2026 | Labour | Starmer / Burnham |
| Satvir Kaur | Jul 2026 – present | Labour | Burnham |
The role was first established in its current form on 9 July 2024, when Jess Phillips was appointed following the Labour Party's victory in the 2024 general election. Phillips resigned in May 2026, citing a lack of "real change" under Keir Starmer's leadership. She was succeeded by Natalie Fleet, who stepped down in July 2026 after finding the role "overwhelmingly triggering" due to her personal history of being groomed and raped as a teenager. The current incumbent, Satvir Kaur, was appointed on 22 July 2026 by Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
