Lucy Powell named education secretary as science department axed

Lucy Powell has been appointed education secretary in Andy Burnham’s government as Downing Street confirmed the end of a stand-alone science department in Whitehall. 

Powell, who has been deputy leader of the Labour party since 2025, will head the Department for Education, which oversees primary, secondary and higher education. 

Jonathan Reynolds was appointed secretary of state for business, innovation, science and trade. 

Downing Street confirmed the merging of the Department of Business and Trade with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology – a move criticised by universities and technology organisations when details first emerged.

The departures of science minister Patrick Vallance and science secretary Liz Kendall were confirmed earlier in the day as details of Burnham’s new Cabinet began to emerge. 

Libby Hackett, chief executive of the Russell Group, welcomed the merger, saying it would put “our world-leading research and innovation capabilities at the centre of national ambitions”.

“With the right support and partnerships in place, and sitting alongside business and industry, we are ready to support this government to meet its ambitions right across the country,” Hackett said.

As education secretary, Powell will have to contend with the financial crisis gripping universities, while attempting to tackle rising numbers of out-of-work young people.  

Like Burnham, Powell has worked closely with the universities in Manchester, having served as an MP in the city since 2012.

In a speech shortly after being appointed prime minister, Burnham repeated his promise to “change the education system”. He has previously spoken about the need to end the dominance of universities and support alternative pathways for young people.

Bridget Phillipson, who served as education secretary under Keir Starmer since July 2024, will remain in the Cabinet as minister for women and equalities. 

Her tenure saw the publication of the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, which committed to increasing tuition fees in line with inflation each year and called for a shift away from the “one size fits all” approach to higher education. 

Phillipson also reduced the amount of funding given to universities through the Strategic Priorities Grant for two years in a row, most recently instructing the regulator to cut funding for creative subjects and other courses including nursing and computing. 

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com