Rotherham-born Justine Greening axed as education secretary in Cabinet reshuffle

ROTHERHAM’S last remaining representative in the Cabinet said it had been “an honour and a privilege” after leaving in a reshuffle.
Justine Greening MP,  then-Secretary of State for Education, chats to pupils at Oakwood School on the day of its official reopening.Justine Greening MP,  then-Secretary of State for Education, chats to pupils at Oakwood School on the day of its official reopening.
Justine Greening MP, then-Secretary of State for Education, chats to pupils at Oakwood School on the day of its official reopening.

Former Oakwood Comprehensive student Justine Greening, who was appointed education secretary in 2016, was one of the casualties as Prime Minister Theresa May shook up her top team.

Ms Greening, who returned to the town last month to open Oakwood’s new school building, said in a message on Twitter: “Honour & privilege to serve in Govt since 2010.  

“Social mobility matters to me & our country more than my ministerial career. I'll continue to do everything I can to create a country that has equality of opportunity for young people and I’ll keep working hard as MP for Putney.”

Former Rotherham MP Denis MacShane pointed out that it was the first time in 20 years no-one from Rotherham was in government.

Ms Greening left the Cabinet after turning down a move to the work and pensions department. 

Questioned by a reporter this morning as she set out for a run, Ms Greening said leaving government was “the right thing to do”.

Ms Greening has been replaced by employment minister Damian Hinds.