Chichester and Bognor MPs Gillian Keegan and Nick Gibb take on Department for Education

Gillian Keegan, MP for Chichester and now Secretary of State for Education

Neighbouring MPs Gillian Keegan (Chichester) and Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) are to take the helm of the Department for Education (DfE) in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s new Government.

It was announced on Tuesday (October 25) that Gillian Keegan would lead the Department in her role as Secretary of State for Education, and now it has been revealed that Nick Gibb returns to the department as a Minister of State in the Department for Education.

Responding to the news, Mr Gibb said: “An honour to be asked by the PM to return to the DfE. Looking forward to helping deliver the PM’s ambitious plans for ever higher standards in schools and world class technical education.”

Mr Gibb had served as schools minister under David Cameron, Theresa May and then Boris Johnson. But he was sacked by Boris Johnson during a reshuffle in September 2021.

Gillian Keegan, who will be Mr Gibb’s boss, had served in Government under Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, as Minister of State for Care at the Department of Health and Social Care and then as Minister for Africa in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

On taking the top job in the Department for Education, Mrs Keegan said: “It is a huge honour to have been appointed as Secretary of State for Education. I passionately believe that talent is equally spread across the country, yet opportunities are often not. I will work to ensure, life-long access to good quality education is available to everyone. I loved moving towards this goal when I served in the Department as the Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills where I introduced T Levels, new Institutes of Technology, and many more new apprenticeship standards leading to exciting careers from health to space.

“Education changes lives – my career started with an apprenticeship, and it led me to an international business career. For many of my friends who also attended the failing comprehensive I did in Knowsley, the education system failed them. It shouldn’t matter where you live, or how old you are – everyone deserves opportunity.

“I am extremely grateful to the Prime Minister for entrusting me with such an important job, and I am excited to get started.”