Ministerial churn draws criticism

The appointment of a 10th children’s minister at the Department for Education in as many years has called into question the government’s commitment to children and young people.

David Johnston, MP for Wanstead and Didcot, was announced as children, families and wellbeing minister in late August, replacing Claire Coutinho following her promotion to Energy Secretary.

Johnston is the seventh person to hold the role since the last general election in December 2019.

Of the seven MPs to take responsibility for areas including children’s social care, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and early years, five have held the role since the UK emerged from the pandemic in spring 2021 amid a backdrop of increased challenges for children including poor mental health, rising speech and language difficulties, and lost learning.

Cautious optimism

Johnston, who was elected in 2019, previously worked as parliamentary private secretary at the DfE between 2021 and 2022 and later served in the same role at the Department for Work and Pensions in 2022. He also sat on the education select committee between 2020 and 2021.

Prior to being elected, he spent a decade as chief executive of the Social Mobility Foundation and was awarded an OBE (order of the British Empire medal) in 2018 for services to social mobility and education.

In one of his first public appearances as children’s minister Johnston addressed delegates at an event hosted by Foundations, which was formed from the merger of the Early Intervention Foundation and What Works for Children’s Social Care.

He said his priority as minister is “keeping families together” through plans put forward in the government’s response to the Care Review and added that findings from a public consultation on the plan are soon to be published by DfE.

His previous experience has prompted cautious optimism among some sector leaders.

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, says: “With his background in the Social Mobility Commission and education select committee, we hope he will hit the ground running and work closely with the sector to support them to give children the best start in life.”

Critical time

Johnston takes the baton after the publication earlier this year of the government’s response to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care in England, its SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan and reforms to funded childcare entitlements and child-to-staff ratios.

Tanuku says a change of minister at such a “crucial time” for the sector is “distressing”.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, adds: “Not only are providers preparing themselves for the biggest expansion of the early years entitlement in recent history but the sector is facing its most difficult time in decades, with nurseries, pre-schools and childminders closing their doors in record numbers and educators leaving the sector in their droves.”

Meanwhile, Clare Howard, chief executive of special college membership body Natspec, adds: “It is an unenviable achievement to become the fifth children’s minister in less than two years and the seventh to oversee the government’s landmark SEND reforms.”

Need for consistency

“The government needs to move away from its merry-go-round approach to governance – previous ministerial changes have led to delays in addressing serious issues, and those providing education and training to young people with SEND desperately need stability, effective leadership and prompt action to address these long-standing issues,” she adds.

Jonathan Stanley, director of the National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care, describes the high turnovers and short tenures of children’s ministers as “a record of high instability”.

He highlights the need for “knowledge and experience of the post holder”, adding that two of Johnston’s predecessor’s Tim Loughton and Edward Timpson “demonstrated this both often and strongly”.

The Labour Party also heavily criticises the churn of post-holders with shadow minister for early years, Helen Hayes, saying: “It speaks volumes about their total lack of commitment to our children.”

As the UK gears up for a general election next year, sector leaders have called for all parties to put children and young people front and centre. All eyes will be on Johnston to see if he remains in post and can deliver on key reforms amid a battle for votes.

Children's ministers since 2010 

• David Johnston Aug 2023-Present

• Claire Coutinho Oct 2022-Aug 2023

• Kelly Tolhurst Sept 2022–Oct 2022

• Brendan Clarke-Smith July 2022-Sept 2022

• Will Quince Sept 2021–July 2022

• Vicky Ford Feb 2020–Sept 2021

• Kemi Badenoch July 2019–Feb 2020

• Nadhim Zahawi Jan 2018–July 2019

• Robert Goodwill June 2017–Jan 2018

• Edward Timpson Sept 2012–June 2017

• Tim Loughton May 2010–Sept 2012

LABOUR NAMES NEW SHADOW CULTURE SECRETARY

Thangam Debbonaire (pictured) is the Labour Party’s shadow culture secretary with responsibility for youth work in leader of the opposition Keir Starmer’s latest shadow cabinet reshuffle.

Debbonaire, who has been MP for Bristol West since 2015, replaces Lucy Powell who is now shadow leader of the House of Commons.

Debbonaire was previously shadow leader of the House of Commons while Powell, MP for Manchester Central, had been shadow secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport since November 2021.