Breaking: Gavin Williamson has been sacked as education secretary
Now there’s a surprise
Gavin Williamson has been sacked as education secretary, making him the first and most unsurprising minister culled in today’s much-hyped cabinet reshuffle.
With rumours flying, Williamson announced his departure in a tweet saying he was “particularly proud of the transformational reforms” he’s led in colleges and apprenticeships.
It has been a privilege to serve as Education Secretary since 2019. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, I’m particularly proud of the transformational reforms I’ve led in Post 16 education: in further education colleges, our Skills agenda, apprenticeships and more.
— Sir Gavin Williamson CBE MP (@GavinWilliamson) September 15, 2021
The tweet didn’t mention the shambolic pandemic A-level results day, or the government’s u-turn over free school meals.
Any chances of salvaging his reputation took a big hit last week when he confused Marcus Rashford and Maro Itoje in an interview – and then decided a video-link was the perfect medium to tell university leaders to get back to in-person teaching
Robert Buckland, the secretary of state for justice, followed Gavin Williamson in being sacked, as Boris Johnson shakes up his government.
Related stories recommended by this writer:
• Every deeply cringe thing Gavin Williamson has done in his political career
• Gavin Williamson has accused unis of focusing too hard on ‘cancelling national heroes’
• Gavin Williamson video calls uni bosses to tell them they must return to in-person teaching
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