Sarah Teather appointed as children and families minister with Tim Loughton as junior minister

She joins the Conservative Party's Tim Loughton, who has been made parliamentary under-secretary of state — or junior minister — for children for families. The new department, which has replaced the Department for Children, Schools and Families, assumes responsibility for education and children's services. 

The portfolios of the new ministers have yet to be confirmed.

Teather's appointment is a surprise move. Before the election she was the Lib Dems' shadow minister for housing for two years. Prior to that, she held brief stints as education spokeswoman and universities spokeswoman for the party. Teather defeated Labour's Dawn Butler to win the new seat of Brent Central in the general election last week.

In opposition, Loughton was Conservative shadow children's minister for six-and-a-half years, with responsibility for children's social care, looked-after children, special educational needs and some elements of youth justice.

He has also played a key role in developing the Tories' plans for the National Citizen Service scheme for 16-year-olds, which is expected to get the go-ahead in the new coalition government.

Elsewhere in the Department for Education, Nick Gibb has been appointed as schools minister.