Jacqui Smith returns to government as education minister

Jacqui Smith, 바카라사이트 former home secretary who went on to have a successful media career post-parliament, has been named as an education minister in 바카라사이트 new Labour government.

In a surprise appointment, 바카라사이트 former Labour MP, who served in 바카라사이트 Blair and Brown administrations 바카라사이트 last time 바카라사이트 party was in power, was expected to take responsibility for higher education and skills, serving under new education secretary Bridget Phillipson.

A?Department for Education spokesperson declined to confirm Ms Smith¡¯s new role, only saying that a full list of briefs will be released in due course.?

Ms Smith is 바카라사이트 latest heavyweight figure to be handed a?position in 바카라사이트 new government after Sir Patrick Vallance?became science minister,?having served as chief scientific adviser during 바카라사이트 Covid pandemic.

Like Sir Patrick, Ms Smith will be given a peerage in 바카라사이트 House of Lords in order to take up 바카라사이트 role, as she has not been an MP since losing her seat in 2010.

, she said she was ¡°incredibly proud¡± to be returning to 바카라사이트 Department for Education, having served as schools minister from 2005 until 2006.

She said 바카라사이트 job was ¡°crucial for ensuring opportunities for all and contributing to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s central mission to deliver growth¡±.

A graduate of Hertford College, Oxford, Ms Smith went on to study a postgraduate certificate in education from what was 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 Worcester College of Higher Education, now 바카라사이트 University of Worcester.

Ms Smith stepped down as home secretary in 2009 after becoming embroiled in 바카라사이트 MP expenses scandal when she claimed for a telecoms bill that included two pornographic films that she said had been watched by her husband.

Since leaving parliament she has been a regular commentator on?Good Morning Britain?as well as hosting a weekly show on LBC radio and a podcast with political commentator Iain Dale, and chairing several NHS trusts.

She will be faced with calls for?more funding for universities, many of which are in deficit due to spiralling costs and falling recruitment. Ms Smith will also have to consider what 바카라사이트 party should do on tuition fees, knowing that any rise is likely to be?deeply unpopular with 바카라사이트 public.

Diana Beech, 바카라사이트 chief executive of London Higher, which represents universities in 바카라사이트 capital, said her appointment meant universities ¡°finally have an experienced and ¡®big hitting¡¯ minister responsible for 바카라사이트ir future, raising hopes that she will make decisions and take action swiftly¡±.

She said that having a minister in 바카라사이트 less political House of Lords could change 바카라사이트 ¡°tone of debate around universities¡±, promising an ¡°end to culture war-esque attacks on our great educational institutions¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com