Education and lifelong learning minister Jane Davidson retained her post in this week’s mini-Cabinet reshuffle at the Assembly government. But first minister Rhodri Morgan demoted controversial health minister Jane Hutt to business manager, and promoted her former deputy, GP Brian Gibbons, to her old post.
Ms Hutt, the Assembly’s first health minister, has presided over consistently higher hospital waiting lists in Wales compared to England.
Education insiders are pleased Ms Davidson remains in charge . One said she was committed to seeing through her “made-in-Wales” education agenda, including the Welsh baccalaureate.
And visitors to last week’s North of England education conference contrasted her assured performance to that of the less-confident new Education Secretary, Ruth Kelly.