Ministering support

No one was more surprised than the new higher education minister Alan Johnson to find he was taking over the brief from Margaret Hodge.

Speaking at his first public appearance three-and-a-half weeks into the job, Mr Johnson said: "Tony rang and told me on a Thursday. It was a bit of a shock. But I was in Sainsbury's with my son on the Saturday and saw copies of The THES . 'That'll set me up fine,' I thought." Let's hope he's placed a regular order.