Priti Patel becomes Employment Minister

Priti Patel has been appointed Minister of State for Employment at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Although Iain Duncan Smith will continue to run the Department, the cabinet rank is a promotion from Patel’s previous Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury role.

Elsewhere, it was confirmed that Nicky Morgan and Nick Boles will continue in their roles as Education Minister and Skills Minister, respectively.

Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group colleges association, said: “We are pleased to see Nick Boles continuing in his role as minister for skills – over the past 10 months we have developed a very positive relationship with the minister and it is good to see the continuity and stability that his appointment represents.

“The new government has set out a clear vision for the future expansion of apprenticeships and for a significant change to the way in which our skills system is viewed, and colleges are ready to work with the new ministerial team to achieve the best outcomes for learners and employers.

“The biggest challenge for Nicky Morgan, as she continues her role at the Department for Education, will be addressing the imbalance of funding between what happens in schools and what happens in colleges. We are keen to explore with the new government how a fair and durable funding settlement for the whole education system can be arrived at, and we have already written to the new ministerial team to explore how colleges can be best positioned and supported to do their vital work.”