Gavin Williamson to Receive a Knighthood

Former education secretary and defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, is to receive a knighthood.

He became education secretary in the summer of 2019, after Boris Johnson became prime minister.

But his time in the job was marked by severe criticism from opposition parties over his handling of school closures, free school meal provision and GCSE and A-level exams during the Covid pandemic.

Mr Williamson was replaced as education secretary by Nadhim Zahawi in last autumn’s reshuffle.

Bridget Phillipson MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to news that former Education Secretary Gavin Williamson will receive a knighthood, said:

“Gavin Williamson left children to go hungry, created two years of complete chaos over exams and failed to get laptops out to kids struggling to learn during lockdowns. His record is astonishing and disgraceful.

“Boris Johnson is proving again it’s one rule for him and his mates and another for the rest of us.

“This shows utter contempt for the challenges children and education staff have faced during the pandemic.”