Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith Joins Education Ministerial Team

Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has been appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to join the education ministerial team at the Department for Education (DfE). Smith’s role will specifically focus on skills, further, and higher education, as confirmed by Iain Dale.

Smith, who is set to receive a peerage, will bring her experience as a former Labour MP and minister to her new position in the House of Lords. She will be taking over the responsibilities previously held by Baroness Barran.

With a career that spans various ministerial roles and her tenure as the first woman Home Secretary, Smith is expected to lead Labour’s skills reforms and contribute to the party’s central mission of delivering growth in education.

Starmer’s decision to merge the skills and higher education ministerial portfolios indicates a strategic shift in the approach towards education policy within the Labour government. The appointment of Smith reflects the party’s commitment to enhancing the national skills strategy and reforming the apprenticeship levy.

Smith’s background as a Member of Parliament representing Redditch, along with her subsequent roles in healthcare and education, positions her well to navigate the educational landscape from the House of Lords. Her past leadership roles at various NHS trusts demonstrate her ability to drive organizational change and improvement.

Further members of the DfE ministerial team are expected to be announced in the following days as the new cabinet under Starmer prepares for their first King's Speech. The upcoming legislative agenda could feature significant education reforms, including the establishment of Skills England and the replacement of the apprenticeship levy.