The newly appointed Education Secretary Michelle Donelan has resigned just 26 hours after being appointed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. More than 50 MPs have resigned their Government posts in protest over integrity and honesty.
Ms Donelan was appointed when Nadhim Zahawi was moved out of the post to become Chancellor, following the resignation of Rishi Sunak. At the same time Nadhim Zahawi, who was appointed Chancellor on Tuesday evening, has told Prime Minister Boris Johnson to “do the right thing and go now”.
In a tweet accompanying a letter, Mr Zahawi said: “Prime Minister: this is not sustainable and it will only get worse: for you, for the Conservative Party and most importantly of all the country. You must do the right thing and go now.”
2022 is the first year of full public exams following the cancellation of GCSEs and A-levels during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.
Results released in August will be lower than those seen in 2021, when teacher-assessed grades were awarded, as grading will be set loosely at a midway point between 2019 and 2021.
In a year when the competition for university places has never been more fierce, the disappointment of youngsters who have also lost out heavily in the pandemic could be tricky to smooth over.
In her letter to Boris Johnson, Michelle Donelan said: “It has been the privilege and honour of my life to serve for our country in the department which I believe is the most important, the true engine of opportunity, the Department of Education.
“I have spent my career dedicated to trying to create opportunities, or as I call it ‘opening doors’, to ensure that where you are from is no limit to where you end up. I have served on the Education Select Committee, as children and families minister, universities minister, higher and further education minister and most recently Secretary of State.
“Whilst I remain very worried about the prospect of no ministers in the department as we approach results day – the impact on students is real – as you know, yesterday I pleaded with you to do the right thing and resign for the sake of our country and our party; both are more important than any one person.
“In life we must always do what we believe is right. Above all I am here to serve the British public. I see no way that you can continue in post, but without a formal mechanism to remove you it seems that the only way that this is only possible is for those of us who remain in Cabinet to force your hand.
“You have put us in an impossible situation. I am deeply saddened that it has come to this, but as someone who values integrity above all else, I have no choice.
“I will continue to champion opportunity for our brilliantly talented and inspiring young people from the backbenches.”
