Donelan, who held the post for just over 24-hours after being appointed by the Prime Minister on Tuesday evening (5 July), is the latest in a string of frontbench MPs and senior aides to step down over the Chris Pincher affair.
She wrote on Twitter: “With great sadness I must resign from government.”
In a resignation letter to Johnson, who also resigned from his position as Prime Minister today (7 July), the MP for Chippenham said that while she is “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”.
With great sadness I must resign from government. pic.twitter.com/tQUf5oVHAa
— Michelle Donelan MP (@michelledonelan) July 7, 2022
The former universities minister, who has also held the children and families portfolio, was appointed as Education Secretary after her predecessor Nadhim Zahawi was promoted to Chancellor of the Exchequer.
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
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.
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.
Well….that didn’t last long. I hope this sorry shambles gets sorted soon. The country and, especially those in the most vulnerable positions like children in care, need a properly functioning government. https://t.co/cFTDp9XwUR
— Katharine Sacks-Jones (@KatharineSJ) July 7, 2022
Care Review chair Josh MacAlister wrote on Twitter, before Donelan’s resignation: “There’s been too much churn in children’s ministers in recent years (seven in seven years). It's essential that new DfE ministers make implementation of reforms for children, families and care experienced people a top priority in the months ahead. We cannot afford drift or delay.”
Responding to news that Johnson will resign as leader of the Conservative Party, but is currently planned to stay on as caretaker leader until the autumn, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said: "It is clear that the exit of Boris Johnson throws many proposed early years changes into disarray. This is especially true for the current ratios proposals, given these changes were reportedly prompted by the Prime Minister himself.
“Whoever is appointed as the next Prime Minister, we hope against hope that they will lead the way in prioritising and valuing the early years sector and put forward a long-term plan for the early years that includes realistic long-term funding, focuses on the needs of the child and recognises the early years workforce as the high-quality and hardworking educators they are.
“For far too long, the early years has fallen further and further down the government’s priority list. Only by recognising the importance of the sector can the next Prime Minister ensure that we have an effective early education and care system that can not only survive, but thrive in the years to come.”
