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By Rachel Lawler

 

Kemi Badenoch MP has been named as the new parliamentary under secretary of state for families and children.

 

Badenoch’s appointment follows the departure of Nadhim Zahawi, who has moved to the department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

 

Writing on Twitter, Badenoch said: “I’m humbled to have been appointed a junior minister at the DfE.” She said that it was a “huge privilege” to work in the department.

 

Badenoch studied computer systems engineering at the University of Sussex and Law at the University of Birkbeck. She has experience in the IT and financial sector and has also served as a director at The Spectator. She has served as MP for Saffron Walden since 2017.

 

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance welcomed the appointment of the new minister but expressed disappointment at another change in the department during a key period.

 

Neil said: “It’s hugely disappointing to have lost the fifth minister for childcare in almost as many years. 

 

“Kemi Badenoch inherits a brief overseeing a sector in crisis: there is now a ÂŁ662m funding shortfall and thousands of providers have closed with many more continuing to struggle on. The challenges facing the sector are significant but are not insurmountable and they require urgent action. 

 

“Families value the high quality, dedicated workforce and we look forward to working with the new minister to ensure children across the country have the best start in life.”