New Childcare Minister Following Government Turmoil

New Childcare Minister Following Government Turmoil

Earlier this month the tensions that have bubbled in the Conservative Party since the end of last year finally came to a head. A fresh scandal involving Chris Pincher MP, one of the Prime Minister’s enforcers – or whips – led to a wave of ministerial resignations that ultimately forced Boris Johnson to agree to resign from office. Chancellor Rishi Sunak, and Minister of Health Sajid Javid were the first to go, and their leaving triggered a succession of further politicians and ministers deciding they had had enough.

Amongst those to go was Childcare Minister Will Quince, who resigned after having had to defend the Prime Minister’s conduct on television, and who seems to have believed the lines he had to take were wrong or misleading. In his resignation latter, Quince referred to the Childcare brief as the ‘best job in government.’ Certainly, while some recent ministers have been inactive, preferring to do and say little, Quince seemed determined to make his mark, beginning controversial consultations on ratios changes and promising to address long standing issues within the sector. While many may have opposed his initiatives, it is clear that he recognised the importance of the job.

Quince has now been reappointed as Minister of State for School Standards, while he has been replaced in the Childcare job by Brendan Clarke-Smith, under James Cleverly the new Education Secretary – Nadhim Zahawi having become Chancellor of the Exchequer. Meanwhile of course, another former Childcare Minister is also looking for promotion. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss began her ministerial career in Childcare during the coalition government, but is now challenging Rishi Sunak for the leadership of the Conservative party and the office of Prime Minister.