Ken Svensson
The Right Honourable Ken Svensson MP | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Secretary of State for Labour, Employment & Social Security | |
| Assumed office 1 September 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Clas Markussen |
| Preceded by | Lucia Forsberg (Work & Pensions) |
| Prime Minister of Ordennya | |
| In office 15 May 2018 – 17 August 2018 | |
| President | Neo Isaksson |
| Deputy | Niamh Cooper |
| Preceded by | Ånneli Lindström |
| Succeeded by | Johan Olsson |
| Secretary of State for Finance | |
| In office 10 May 2015 – 15 May 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Ånneli Lindström |
| Preceded by | Valdemar Söderberg |
| Succeeded by | Niamh Cooper |
| Leader of the Labour Party | |
| In office 16 August 2018 – 18 November 2018 | |
| Preceded by | None, office created |
| Succeeded by | Karl Simoneau |
| Leader of the Popular Alliance of Socialists & Democrats | |
| In office 15 May 2018 – 16 August 2018 | |
| Deputy | Anton Rudolfsson Helga Olafsdottir |
| Preceded by | Ånneli Lindström |
| Succeeded by | None, office dissolved |
| Deputy Leader of the Popular Alliance of Socialists & Democrats | |
| In office 12 April 2011 – 10 March 2018 Serving with Anton Rudolfsson | |
| Leader | Ånneli Lindström |
| Preceded by | Katrin Bjarnisdottir |
| Succeeded by | Jennifer Alexandre |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Finance | |
| In office 12 September 2010 – 10 May 2015 | |
| Leader | Ånneli Lindström |
| Preceded by | Esther Steffensen |
| Succeeded by | Valdemar Söderberg |
| Shadow Minister for Economic Growth | |
| In office 13 December 2008 – 12 September 2010 | |
| Leader | Jakob Askildsen |
| Preceded by | Bjornar Moxnes |
| Succeeded by | Oliver Jakobsen |
| Member of Parliament for Fristad | |
| Assumed office 13 November 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Olaf Eklund |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kenneth Wilhelm Svensson 11 September 1971 Fristad, Ostea, Ordennya |
| Nationality | Ordennyan |
| Political party | Labour (since 2018) |
| Other political affiliations | PASD (2007-2018) Socialist People's Party (before 2007) |
| Alma mater | University of Nordenavvic |
| Profession | Teacher |
Kenneth Wilhelm "Ken" Svensson (born 28 October 1978) is an Ordennyan Labour Party politician, currently serving as Secretary of State for Employment & Social Security. He previously served as Prime Minister of Ordennya between May and August of 2018, and as Finance Secretary between 2014 and 2018. As of 2024, he is the only black person to have served either as leader of a major political party in Ordennya, or as Prime Minister of Ordennya.
He was previously an economics teacher at Fristad High School, teaching ages 11 to 18. During his time as a teacher, he was also the school's shop steward and organiser for Ordennyan Teacher's Union.
Svensson was first elected to parliament in a by-election in November 2007, winning the seat of Fristad from the Conservatives as the candidate of the Socialist People's Party after being endorsed in the seat by the Labour Party, the Democratic Centre Party, and the Civic Alliance Party. Serving first as the SFP's education spokesperson, he was appointed as the party's finance spokesperson in January of 2008. When the SFP merged with Labour, the DCP, and Civic Alliance to form the Popular Alliance of Socialists & Democrats, Svensson joined the Opposition Frontbench as Shadow Minister for Economic Growth, deputising for Esther Steffensen.
He was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Education Secretary by outgoing leader Jakub Askildsen following the PASD's defeat at the 2010 election, and initially explored running in the election to succeed him, but abandoned his plans after he concluded that he would not be able to garner the necessary nominations to make it onto the ballot. He was instead able to convince Ånneli Lindström to run, serving as her campaign manager, and was appointed as Shadow Finance Secretary following her victory.
He was elected as Co-Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in April 2011, filling the position vacated by Katrin Bjarnisdottir, serving alongside Anton Rudolfsson.
Svensson played a key role in planning the PASD's campaign for the 2014 Ordennyan general election, which the party was widely expected to lose given their perceived unpopularity under Lindström's leadership. In the event, the PASD emerged as the largest party in a hung parliament, and was able to form a majority coalition government with the Green Party, led by Rune Nystrom. Svensson was appointed as Secretary of State for Finance and as Co-First Secretary of State, alongside Foreign Secretary Anton Rudolfsson.
Svensson launched his own bid for the PASD leadership following Lindström's resignation as leader in February of 2018. His sole opponent in the election was Communities Secretary Helga Olafsdottir, who was widely seen as the candidate of the old Labour Right and DCP. The election resulted in a narrow victory for Svensson, who beat Olafsdottir with 53% of the vote to her 47%. He succeeded Lindström as PASD leader and Prime Minister. He subsequently appointed Olafsdottir as Deputy Leader of the PASD, and despite calls to name her either as Finance Secretary or Business Secretary, he instead appointed her as Defence Secretary, while appointing Niamh Cooper, the leader of the Green Party, as Finance Secretary, and veteran left winger and former SFP leader Lars Bergman as Business Secretary.