David Johnston, Conservative MP for Wantage  has been appointed as the new children, families and wellbeing minister, taking over from Claire Coutinho

In the Prime Minister’s mini reshuffle, Claire Coutinho, MP for East Surrey has become energy secretary, replacing Grant Shapps, now defence secretary.

Johnston was elected as MP for Wantage in 2019.

Purnima Tanuku OBE, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association, said: “With the news of the sudden departure of Claire Coutinho from the childcare brief, we are back to square one. This is really distressing for the early years sector to have their minister moved at such a crucial time just seven months from the expansion of funded childcare for two-year-olds.

“The new minister David Johnston will be the eighth we have had within five years. Childcare and early education must be a priority and must be given some stability and focus.

“Mr Johnston will need to get to grips very quickly with the key financial and workforce challenges plaguing the sector in order to make this expansion a success for children, parents and providers. With his background in the Social Mobility Commission and Education Select Committee, we hope he will hit the ground running and work closely with the sector to support them to give children the best start in life.

“Since her appointment as education minister, Claire Coutinho has engaged well with the sector and its challenges, speaking at our conference and visiting many nurseries. We wish her well in her new role.”

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said: 

“We welcome David Johnston as the new minister for children, families, and wellbeing and look forward to working with him in his new role.

“There’s no question that Mr Johnston takes on this role at a crucial and challenging time for the sector. Not only are providers preparing themselves for the biggest expansion of the early entitlement in recent history but the sector is facing its most difficult time in decades, with nurseries, pre-schools and childminders closing their doors in record numbers and educators leaving the sector in their droves.” “We hope that David Johnston can be both an advocate for the early years sector and ensure that, at an incredibly important time for the sector, it is at the very top of the government’s priority list.”