Damian Hinds named as new Education Secretary after Justine Greening resigns

Ms Greening walked out after Theresa May reportedly tried to move her to another department

Damian Hinds has been promoted to become the new Education Secretary (House of Commons)

Damian Hinds has been appointed as the new Education Secretary after Justine Greening resigned from the Government.

The former work and pensions minister was promoted to Theresa May's top team as part of a new year's reshuffle aimed at reasserting her authority after the poor general election result.

In the biggest upset of the night, Ms Greening refused to allow the Prime Minister to move her to another department and dramatically resigned from the Cabinet.

She had made it clear she wanted to stay in the education post amid numerous reports that Ms May wanted to move her.

Meanwhile, the post of Work and Pensions Secretary, which Ms Greening turned down, was handed to former minister Esther McVey.

Mr Hinds is a former grammar school pupil, who studied at Oxford University, and spent 18 years working in the pubs, brewing and hotel industries, before entering politics.

He also sat on the education select committee and once chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Mobility - an issue close to the Prime Minister's heart.