Jacqui Smith expected to become skills and FE minister

Prime minister Keir Starmer has appointed the previous dwelling secretary Jacqui Smith as a minister of state on the Division for Schooling.

FE Week understands Smith will take the talents, additional and better training transient, although this has not but been confirmed by the Division for Schooling.

Smith served in a number of ministerial roles within the final Labour authorities. She was the nation’s first girl to function dwelling secretary and was the minister for 14-19 learners and faculties between 2005 and 2006.

Smith will lead on Labour’s expertise reforms from the Home of Lords.

Labour’s profitable manifesto dedicated the get together to changing the apprenticeship levy and establishing Abilities England, a brand new “cross-government taskforce” to co-ordinate a nationwide expertise technique.

Bridget Phillipson was formally appointed training secretary yesterday. Additional members of the DfE ministerial group are to be introduced within the coming days.

Posting on X, previously generally known as Twitter, Smith stated:

“I’m extremely proud to be returning to @educationgovuk [Department for Education] working with the enormously spectacular @bphillipsonMP [Bridget Phillipson] in a job which is essential for guaranteeing alternatives for all and contributing to the federal government’s central mission to ship development.”

This implies Starmer has merged the talents and better training ministerial portfolios. Till now, Seema Malhotra has led on expertise and Matt Western has led on larger training.

Western stated Smith “brings big expertise of presidency at a time when the HE and FE sectors are going through their biggest challenges: bringing the roles collectively makes a lot sense.”

Starmer and his newly appointed cupboard shall be starting preparations for his or her first King’s Speech, happening on July 17.

Laws introduced within the King’s Speech might embody a invoice to exchange the present apprenticeship levy with a expertise and development levy and set about establishing Abilities England.