Jo Johnson has lower back to his former short as university and technological know-how minister after his brother Boris Johnson took over as top minister and appointed a new ministerial group. Mr. Johnson left the publish in January 2018 beneath former prime minister Theresa May after opposing her plans to introduce a first-rate overview of put up-18 training. Ultimately, they resigned from authorities entirely so one could voice support for a 2d EU referendum. He replaces Chris Skidmore, who had served as university and technological know-how minister considering 2018 and will attend the cupboard.
In his time in outdoor government, Jo Johnson continued to be a vocal opponent of the Augar evaluation. Its tips that university training charges be reduced to £7,500, with substitute public funding weighted in the direction of excessive-value topics or people with the finest “social and financial value.” His go back to authorities will make him an influential pressure in opposition to the implementation of the assessment’s guidelines on better schooling funding; at the same time, universities will even welcome his return given his campaign for the go back of put up-look at paintings visas.
Gavin Williamson has been appointed education secretary and Andrea Leadsom business secretary, as new top minister Boris Johnson purged opponents of a no-deal Brexit from his Cabinet. The former schooling secretary, Damian Hinds, and the previous business secretary, Greg Clark, exited their posts on 24 July after Mr. Johnson became a top minister in advance of the day, amid a dramatic cull of ministers who served beneath his predecessor, Theresa May.
Mr. Williamson, a former defense secretary and leader whip, takes over at the Department for Education. In contrast, Ms. Leadsom takes the helm at the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, which is answerable for studies coverage and investment. Mr. Hinds had provided little in the way of contributions to better education coverage until a flurry of interventions – inclusive of universities’ complaints on unconditional offers and placing in motion an admissions assessment – ahead of the guide of the Augar evaluation.
He has been understood to be a supporter of the Augar evaluation. A new high minister and Cabinet greater inclined to countenance a no-deal Brexit might be alarming prospects for universities, which worry about the consequences of the sort of flow, in phrases of huge-ranging effect on their operations and in particular elements including doubtlessly finishing their hopes of taking part inside the EU’s studies program after Brexit.
