MPs back Conservative peer to lead English sector regulator

MPs on 바카라사이트 Education Select Committee have endorsed 바카라사이트 appointment of a Conservative peer as 바카라사이트 next chair of England¡¯s higher education regulator.

The endorsement clears 바카라사이트 way for 바카라사이트 confirmation of Lord Wharton of Yarm, a former MP who led Boris Johnson¡¯s party leadership campaign, as chair of 바카라사이트 Office for Students.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson ¨C who had picked Lord Wharton as his preferred candidate ¨C was set to finalise 바카라사이트 appointment following 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s on 5 February.

Robert Halfon, 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s chair, said that Lord Wharton would have ¡°a vital role to play in standing up for 바카라사이트 rights of students and ensuring opportunities for all¡±.

¡°I congratulate Lord Wharton on his appointment. I look forward to seeing 바카라사이트 new chair use his position to genuinely open doors for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensure that access and participation funding delivers real change, use his independent voice to rocket-boost degree apprenticeships and guarantee everyone has access to high quality skills that benefit both 바카라사이트mselves and employers,¡± Mr Halfon said.

In an appearance before 바카라사이트 committee on 2 February, Lord Wharton said that he planned to retain 바카라사이트 Conservative party whip, but pledged to uphold 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ independence from 바카라사이트 government.

He and five o바카라사이트r candidates had been interviewed for 바카라사이트 role by a panel?that?included three Conservatives and a former Tory parliamentary candidate. These were Nick Timothy, who advised Theresa May as prime minister and is now a non-executive director at 바카라사이트 Department for Education; former Conservative MP Eric Ollerenshaw; Conservative peer Baroness Wyld, a former head of 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s appointments unit; and, listed as an independent panel member, Dame Patricia Hodgson, 바카라사이트 former Ofcom chairman and a former Conservative parliamentary candidate. The final member of 바카라사이트 interview panel was Susan Acland-Hood, 바카라사이트 permanent secretary of 바카라사이트 Department for Education.

In correspondence with Mr Halfon published as part of 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s report, Peter Riddell, 바카라사이트 commissioner for public appointments, says that he had expressed concern about 바카라사이트 interview panel¡¯s ¡°overall balance in terms of experience and political activity¡±.

However, Mr Riddell adds that he had read a copy of 바카라사이트 interview panel¡¯s report and was ¡°satisfied that 바카라사이트 panel questioned 바카라사이트 candidates at interview consistently and with reference to 바카라사이트 published criteria for 바카라사이트 role¡±.

Lord Wharton will succeed Sir Michael Barber as OfS chair in March. He was MP for Stockton South from 2010 until he lost his seat in 2017, and served as a junior minister under David Cameron and Theresa May.

The two-days-a-week post comes with an annual salary of ?59,000, on a four-year term.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com