Jo Johnson returns as universities and science minister

Jo Johnson has been appointed universities and science minister in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s new ministerial team. 

Appointed by his brother, he takes over from Chris Skidmore who had served in the position since December 2018.

Mr Johnson previously held the position of minister for universities and science from July 2016 to January 2018.

After leaving the role, he was appointed the minister of transport but resigned from government nine months later over Mrs May’s Brexit deal and to voice support for a second referendum.

During his time as universities minister, Mr Johnson opposed Mrs May’s plan to review funding of the higher education sector.

He was critical of the Augar review of post-18 education published earlier this year.

The review recommended that university tuition fees be cut from £9,250 to £7,500 a year but Mr Johnson said there would be “real doubt” that the Treasury would provide extra direct funding to universities for income lost.

“I don’t think Philip Augar can really bank on any Treasury assurance he receives that the money will be backfilled,” he said.

Jo Johnson @JoJohnsonUK has been appointed Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy @beisgovuk, and the Department for Education @educationgovuk. He will also attend Cabinet. pic.twitter.com/k3FOSt3MWm

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 24, 2019

He also said that the recommendation in the report to extend the student loan repayment time by 10 years was “regressive” as those who will have to pay it off for longer “will be lower-earning and middle-earning graduates”.

Other recommendations in the review included the restoration of non-repayable maintenance grants and driving more funding towards further education.

Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle on 24 July, his first day in office, also saw Gavin Williamson appointed to the role of education secretary.

Mr Williamson has been the MP for South Staffordshire since 2010 and was appointed defence secretary in November 2017.

In May he was sacked from the position for allegedly leaking details of a high-level National Security Council meeting. He denies being the source of the leak.

Mr Williamson took over the role from Damien Hinds, making him the fifth education secretary in five years.

Overall, 17 of Theresa May’s senior cabinet ministers lost their jobs in the formation of Boris Johnson’s cabinet.

Appointments in the new cabinet include Sajid Javid as chancellor, Dominic Raab as foreign secretary and Priti Patel as home secretary.