Andrea Jenkyns has been appointed minister for skills, further and higher education after ministerial turmoil caused by the collapse of Boris Johnson’s government.
She replaces Michelle Donelan, who had been promoted to the post of education secretary but quit that role within 32 hours as pressure grew on Mr Johnson to resign.
Mr Johnson is still in No 10, staying on only until the Conservative Party chooses a successor in September. He has appointed a new Cabinet after a string of resignations toppled him.
Ms Jenkyns was appointed a parliamentary undersecretary of state in the reshuffle on 8 July but had not been given a brief until now.
The MP for Morley and Outwood instantly hit the headlines following her appointment when footage emerged of her putting her middle finger up to a crowd of spectators who had gathered outside Downing Street on the day Mr Johnson announced his departure.
Defending her action, she said that she had reached the “end of her tether” after years of abuse and seven death threats and that a “baying mob” had been “insulting” MPs at the gates of Downing Street.
“I responded and stood up for myself. Just why should anyone have to put up with this sort of treatment? I should have shown more composure but am only human,” she added.
In response, teachers’ unions wrote an open letter criticising her action, which they said would make it harder to “maintain common decency in schools”.
Ms Jenkyns may be in post for only a few months as a new prime minister will likely appoint a completely new governmental team. Former chancellor Rishi Sunak is considered the favourite to succeed Mr Johnson, but he faces opposition from foreign secretary Liz Truss, as well as the MP Kemi Badenoch, who has promised to tackle “pointless” and “costly” degrees if she is chosen as the UK’s next prime minister.
A parliamentary undersecretary being given responsibility for higher education represents a downgrade in the importance of the brief. Ms Donelan was a minister of state who attended Cabinet meetings, whereas Ms Jenkyns has not been given this level of seniority.
Higher education and skills were previously the responsibility of different ministers within the Department for Education. Alex Burghart was the previous parliamentary undersecretary of state for apprenticeships and skills, a position he held until his own resignation from government.
A graduate of the Open University and the University of Lincoln, Ms Jenkyns has been a strong supporter of Brexit.
