Nick Boles MP has resigned from his role as skills minister.
In a post on his Facebook page, posted at 3.40pm today, Mr Boles said that it was the “right time for me to return to the back benches”.
His resignation, which he confirmed on Twitter, comes almost exactly two years to the day that he was first appointed to the role.
His Facebook statement said: “As David Cameron prepares to visit HM the Queen and tender his resignation I want to add my voice to those praising his remarkable service as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party.
“It was a huge privilege to be part of his government.
“I want to thank him for offering me the opportunity to serve my country.
“I believe that this is the right time for me to return to the backbenches.
“I have greatly enjoyed my time as minister for skills and minister for planning.”
Mr Boles said two skills-related achievements were among the things he was most proud of from his time in office.
One, he explained, was the “introduction of the apprenticeship levy which will encourage more employers to offer apprenticeships and increase spending on apprenticeship training by £1 billion a year by 2020”.
The other, he added, was the “development of the government’s Skills Plan which heralds a transformation in the status and quality of technical education in England”.
In the past six months Mr Boles has repeatedly refused interviews with FE Week (see table below). In fact, his lack of engagement with the media over FE and skills reforms, particularly apprenticeships, proved to be very frustrating for us and our readers.
Despite the lack of engagement in recent months, Mr Boles has featured regularly in FE Week during his time as skills minister, often in cartoons. Here’s a selection of our favourites:
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17 months ago in phase 3 our sector started developing the new apprenticeship standards, we still have not been able to get our first one approved due to constant policy changes and BIS requirements. During this time our only sector specific framework was removed leaving our sector no apprenticeship at all. So we are now turning away droves of young enthusiast people as we have no apprenticeship.
It’s a shame he couldn’t see his reforms through to fruition- hopefully his replacement won’t be tempted to tear them up & start their own pet projects in FE.
His job was to run the country? I must have missed that reshuffle. Heaven forbid that he should be in the least accountable or responsive to professionals in his area of responsibility. Perhaps, like Gove, you think we’ve all had enough of experts.
Sorry FE Week, I can’t get too excited about Boles’ avoidance of interviews with you. I’m much more interested in where policy goes now he’s gone. I always thought that Boles was given a hospital pass to try to get the apprenticeship levy to work, so let’s see who takes over that role – and indeed which Department ends up being responsible for it.
This now raises major questions over the whole area of policy – have Trailblazers bit the dust? Will IfA now be abandoned? Are PTE changes on hold? Will the Government now abandon or put back the Levy?
Clearly an hour is a long time in politics!!
Unbelievable, whats the saying…’when the going gets tough, the tough get going’…..or in this case ‘when the going gets tough, they all leave!!’
Typical of the MPs and minister roles who abandon their post when we really need them to be robust, finish what they start and be consistent.
David Cameron should hang his head in shame as the leader of the conservative party looks like his minions are following by example!
Shame on you all…
At last he was unequivocal on something
So much for the “rivers of money” he promised….
17 months ago in phase 3 our sector started developing the new apprenticeship standards, we still have not been able to get our first one approved due to constant policy changes and BIS requirements. During this time our only sector specific framework was removed leaving our sector no apprenticeship at all. So we are now turning away droves of young enthusiast people as we have no apprenticeship.
what sector area are you in?
It’s a shame he couldn’t see his reforms through to fruition- hopefully his replacement won’t be tempted to tear them up & start their own pet projects in FE.
Get over yourselves. His job was to run the country, not answer to snide leftist trade magazines.
His job was to run the country? I must have missed that reshuffle. Heaven forbid that he should be in the least accountable or responsive to professionals in his area of responsibility. Perhaps, like Gove, you think we’ve all had enough of experts.
Sorry FE Week, I can’t get too excited about Boles’ avoidance of interviews with you. I’m much more interested in where policy goes now he’s gone. I always thought that Boles was given a hospital pass to try to get the apprenticeship levy to work, so let’s see who takes over that role – and indeed which Department ends up being responsible for it.
A joint DFE/BIS Dept will ensure FE and skills sinks down the priority list. Sainsbury’s review now toast?
This now raises major questions over the whole area of policy – have Trailblazers bit the dust? Will IfA now be abandoned? Are PTE changes on hold? Will the Government now abandon or put back the Levy?
Clearly an hour is a long time in politics!!
Unbelievable, whats the saying…’when the going gets tough, the tough get going’…..or in this case ‘when the going gets tough, they all leave!!’
Typical of the MPs and minister roles who abandon their post when we really need them to be robust, finish what they start and be consistent.
David Cameron should hang his head in shame as the leader of the conservative party looks like his minions are following by example!
Shame on you all…