Skills and apprenticeships minister Robert Halfon to step down as MP
Fiona Simpson
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Former chair of the Education Committee and Department for Education minister Robert Halfon will step down from government at the next general election.
In a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the MP for Harlow said: “After almost three decades as a parliamentary candidate and MP, I feel that it is time for me to step down.”
Halfon was first elected as MP for Harlow in 2010, he was chair of the Education Committee from 2017 to 2019 and again from 2020 to 2022.
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He has also held the position of minister of state for apprenticeships, skills and higher education between 2016 and 2017 and between 2022 and his resignation.
A personal statement from the Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Member of Parliament for Harlow and the villages and the Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education. 👇https://t.co/SIj1aYNhlm pic.twitter.com/MGadHQWuLV
— Robert Halfon MP ➡️Working Hard for Harlow⬅️ (@halfon4harlowMP) March 26, 2024
Responding to Halfon’s decision to step down, Sunak described the MP’s “greatest legacy in parliament” as his “passion for promoting apprenticeships”.
“You have been a stalwart champion of this lifechanging and remarkable programme,” the Prime Minister said.
Thank you for all your hard work, Rob.
— Gillian Keegan MP (@GillianKeegan) March 26, 2024
You are a brilliant colleague and friend, and I will miss working so closely with you.
I know whatever you choose to do next, you will bring the same passion and dedication you’ve given to your constituents and people across the country. https://t.co/m3g2Fsh9VW pic.twitter.com/vQs18XgL7g
In a separate response, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, said: “Over the last 14 years in parliament and government you have been a champion for education and played a key part in driving our reforms that have transformed education and built a new skills system from the ground up.”
While DfE has not officially announced Halfon’s replacement, Luke Hall, MP for Thornbury and Yate, is now listed as a minister on the department’s website.
He was previously minister of state for housing, local government and communities between 2020 and 2021.
