UK Politics (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Liz Kendall is expected to replace Peter Kyle as science secretary in Keir Starmer’s major reshuffle, according to reports circulating in Westminster.
Angela Rayner, the housing secretary and deputy prime minister, resigned after not paying enough stamp duty on a Hove property, which prompted the reshuffle.
According to the BBC, Kyle will succeed incumbent Jonathan Reynolds as business secretary.
According to some sources, Kendall, who was previously the secretary for labor and pensions, will take Kyle’s job at the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology. This will probably be viewed as a demotion for Kendall.
Alicia Greated, executive director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, said:
“I am pleased to welcome Liz Kendall as the new secretary of state for science, innovation and technology. It is critical to have research and innovation represented at the cabinet table and I look forward to working with her to provide the best support and direction for UK R&D.”
She added:
“Peter Kyle has been a great champion for UK R&D and technology during his time as secretary of state for Dsit. We wish him luck in his new post at the Department for Business and Trade, where we hope to continue working with him on the important issues facing what is a vital part of the UK’s R&D sector.”
Kendall will be replaced by Pat McFadden, the current chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in a reorganised Department for Work and Pensions, which is said to take over the Department for Education’s skills division.
It’s unclear what this means for the duties of Jacqui Smith, the skills minister who oversees higher education at the DfE. Long-awaited government suggestions for improvements in higher education will be included in a white paper on post-16 skills that the DfE is scheduled to publish.
Greated said
“it is important we get clarity on how the remit of this new department sits alongside those with existing interests relating to skills”.
Bridget Phillipson, the secretary of education, is anticipated to stay in her position.
How could moving skills out of DfE affect university research funding?
The issue of separating skills from the education department risks dividing policy development and funding sources across higher education (HE), further education (FE) and skills. In any future governmental policy which proposes to separate skills training from the education department risks introducing divisive forces into an integrated approach to funding for research and workforce development.
Internally in a DfE they’re a degree of competition between universities, schools and further education and as a result they could further fragment financial budgets. Moving skills training from the Education department could begin to reshape these budgets or divert focal points away from advocating for university research funding.
Fragmented responsibility over time would not support any long term planning around funding research infrastructure linked to workforce skills needs has the potential to reduce universities’ ability to attract that funding stream or engage with industry.