James Cleverly appointed as Education Secretary
Fiona Simpson and Derren Hayes
Thursday, July 7, 2022
James Cleverly has been named as the government's third Education Secretary in just three days.
Cleverly, MP for Braintree since 2015, replaces Michelle Donelan who spent just 24 hours as Education Secretary before resigning today (7 July).
His most recent ministerial position was as minister of state for Middle East, North Africa and North America from February 2020 to February 2022.
Donelan replaced Nadhim Zawahi who was promoted to Chancellor of the Exchequer on Tuesday (5 July) amid a mass resignation of frontbench MPs and senior aides over the Prime Minister’s handling of the Chris Pincher affair.
In a resignation letter to Johnson, Donelan, the MP for Chippenham, said that while she was “worried” about the prospect of the Department for Education having no ministers as the country approaches A-Level and GCSE results days next month, she said: “In life we must always do what we believe is right”.
Education Secretaries 2010 - 2022
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Michael Gove May 2010 - July 2014
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Nicky Morgan July 2014 - July 2016
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Justine Greening July 2016 - January 2018
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Damien Hinds January 2018 - July 2019
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Gavin Williamson July 2019 - September 2021
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Nadhim Zahawi September 2021 - July 22
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Michelle Donelan July 22 - July 22
- James Cleverly July 22 - Present
Cleverly, who had a career in media sales before entering politics, served as co-chair of the Conservative Party from 2019-20 and was member of the London Assembly for Bexley and Bromley from 2008 to 2016.
In 2009, he was appointed by then London mayor Boris Johnson as a youth ambassador, a newly created role that replaced the previous deputy mayor for young people post following the resignation of Ray Lewis.
Cleverly is also a serving officer in the Territorial Army being promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in 2015.
In a statement issued after his appointment, Cleverly said: "As someone whose grandfather was a teacher and whose children are currently in the education system, I am incredibly passionate about education and proud to be appointed Secretary of State.
"From childcare and exams results, to our schools white paper, T Levels and the rest of our revolutionary skills agenda, we have a huge amount of work to do and I am looking forward to getting on with the job. That means ensuring children, young people and their families continue to be supported – they have my full commitment.
“I look forward to engaging with our brilliant nurseries, social workers, schools, colleges, universities and all the staff working across these sectors to realise people’s potential - whatever their backgrounds or wherever they come from.”
Among dozens of senior politicians and aides to resign over the last 72 hours are children’s minister Will Quince, youth justice minister Victoria Atkins and schools minister Robin Walker.
However, Quince later returned to his position within DfE.
He wrote on Twitter: "In my letter on Wednesday I set out how hard it was stepping away from a job that I love, working every day to improve the life chances of children and young people. Pending the appointment of a new PM in the coming weeks, I have been asked and agreed to serve in HM Government.
"I care passionately about the work of the Department for Education. At this crucial time for our country, I believe it is my duty to use my DfE experience to assist the new Secretary of State to deliver on our vital work for our nation's children."
The sector has raised concerns over the future of major policy reform including proposals put forward in the Care Review, schools white paper, SEND and AP green paper and a recently launched consultation over childcare ratios.
Boris Johnson has said he will resign as leader of the Conservative Party but is expected to continue as Prime Minister until the autumn.
Elsewhere, Greg Clarke, MP for Tunbridge Wells, has replaced Michael Gove as Levelling Up Secretary after Gove was sacked by Johnson.