Kit Malthouse has been named as prime minister Liz Truss’ education secretary.
He becomes the fifth education secretary to hold the post in the space of 12 months, replacing James Cleverly.
When asked how he felt about his new role as he was leaving Downing Street this evening, he said it was “most important job in Whitehall”.
Mr Malthouse attended Liverpool College, now an academy, when it operated as an independent school, before going on to study politics and economics at Newcastle University.
The MP for North West Hampshire for seven years, he was appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Work and Pensions after the 2018 reshuffle.
Kit Malthouse announced as education secretary
Following Dominic Raab’s appointment as Brexit secretary, Mr Malthouse took over as minister of state for housing and planning from 2018 to 2019, subsequently taking the minister of policing role from Nick Hurd.
He was named chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in July this year, a senior Cabinet Office ministerial role.
Mr Malthouse’s appointment came after rumours that the education secretary position would go to former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch or minister of state for trade Penny Mordaunt, who were both defeated by Ms Truss in the recent Conservative leadership contest.
Other names touted for the role at Sanctuary Buildings included Mr Cleverly’s short-lived predecessor, Michelle Donelan, and former health minister Edward Argar.
Since September last year the education secretary post has been held by Gavin Williamson, who was removed from the role just under a year ago; Nadhim Zahawi; Ms Donelan; and, most recently, Mr Cleverly who was appointed by Boris Johnson after his government was hit by a wave of resignations.
