Williamson is biggest cabinet casualty as Boris Johnson wields reshuffle axe

Mr Williamson had faced calls for his dismissal since the GCSE and A-level exams debacle, more than a year ago

Gavin Williamson was the biggest casualty of Boris Johnson’s reshuffle, in a major clear-out which also saw justice secretary Robert Buckland and housing secretary Robert Jenrick kicked out of the cabinet.

Mr Williamson announced on Twitter that he was leaving the job of education secretary which he has held since 2019, with No 10 later confirming that he, Buckland and Jenrick were all returning to the backbenches.

The long-expected sacking comes more than a year after the bungled GCSE and A-level exams that first triggered widespread calls for him to go.

Mr Buckland’s removal created a vacancy for Dominic Raab, who was demoted to the Foreign Office with the consolation of the titles not only of justice secreatry but also Lord Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister.

There was speculation that Mr Raab’s vacated role as foreign secretary will be filled by Liz Truss, darling of the Tory grassroots for her efforts to seal post-Brexit trade deals.

The international trade secretary was seen entering 10 Downing Street as Mr Johnson began the job of making appointments, after dealing with sackings in the relative privacy of his Commons office.

Mr Jenrick, who survived the scandal of unlawfully approving a planning application in a way that favoured a major Tory donor – became the third reshuffle casualty.

And Amanda Milling lost her job as Tory chair, following criticisms of her handling of the Chesham and Amersham byelection debacle, where Conservatives lost a rock-solid seat with a gigantic 25-point swing to Liberal Democrats.

Ms Milling said: “It’s been a privilege and an honour to be the co-chairman of the Conservative Party. Thank you to the voluntary party and the team at CCHQ for their support. Thank you to Boiris Johnson for this opportunity. I will continue working to deliver on our plans to level up the UK.”

Meanwhile, The Independent understands that the Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove is being offered Mr Jenrick’s job at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

His daunting in-tray would include huge court backlogs, a shortage of criminal lawyers and a controversial review of the Human Rights Act.

Mr Williamson tweeted: “It has been a privilege to serve as education secretary since 2019.

“Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, I’m particularly proud of the transformational reforms I’ve led in post-16 education: in further education colleges, our skills agenda, apprenticeships and more... I look forward to continuing to support the prime minister and the government.”

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner welcomed his dismissal: “It’s good that Gavin Williamson has been sacked but he should have been sacked over a year ago.

“That prat’s absolute idiocy, failures and uselessness have damaged the life chances of our country’s children and this government has failed young people, teachers and education staff.”

Jo Grady,  general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), has called on the incoming education secretary to “commit to repairing the damage that has been done” by Mr Williamson.

Ms Grady said: “Gavin Williamson will be remembered by university and college staff as a disastrous secretary of state who caused deep and lasting damage.

“From the mutant algorithm which attempted to hardwire inequalities into the exam system, to his negligent mismanagement of the pandemic leading to schools, universities and colleges becoming Covid incubators, Williamson’s long list of failures is shocking.”

Mr Buckland tweeted: “It has been an honour to serve in Government for the last 7 years, and as the Lord Chancellor for the last 2. I am deeply proud of everything I have achieved. On to the next adventure.”

Harriet Harman, Labour’s former deputy leader, tweeted her thanks to Mr Buckland “for the important changes you made on domestic violence & sex violence against women”.

And the chair of the Commons Justice Committee, Tory MP Sir Bob Neill, told Sky News his removal was “unjust, outrageous” and “he has been shabbily treated”.