Editor's view - Playing their cards right in the reshuffle?
Liz Roberts
Friday, October 18, 2013
When Government and opposition reshuffles come along, it's very hard to predict what will happen and impossible to know the machinations and trade-offs that go on behind the scenes.
'Everyone' was convinced that Elizabeth Truss would be moving on from her position as education and childcare minister. Rumours had been flying around for months about likely replacements; her appearance at the Resolution Foundation event was cancelled at the last minute.
But 'everyone' was wrong, as it became apparent following the live feed of ministerial ins and outs to the very end of the day. One wonders if Ms Truss's obviously exasperated comments about early years experts in a national newspaper, referred to by Nancy Stewart in her column opposite, betrayed her own belief that she would be free of those misguided souls very soon.
For better or worse, the Minister remains and the early years sector must maintain the best relationship it can.
On the one hand, the sector has come to believe that Ms Truss does not take much notice of their views and will not accept evidence that does not match her intent. On the other hand, there is no need to start again witha fresh incumbent, and there are areas such as the problems with Ofsted's concern-driven inspections where Ms Truss is reportedly keen to step in.
On the opposition side, it was also a surprise that Sharon Hodgson, who had got to grips with her brief very well of late, was replaced, although Lucy Powell has already shown great interest in childcare. She will need to persuade the sector that an increase to 25 hours of 'free' early education for three- and four-year-olds can help parents without driving many providers out of business.