Former minister Robert Halfon elected to education committee
Conservative Friends of Israel member chosen for new role on select committee a month after losing post in government
Former apprenticeships minister Robert Halfon has been elected to chair the House of Commons education select committee.
Just a month after losing his ministerial post, the MP for Harlow was chosen for the new role by his peers by securing 261 votes to 213 for Nick Boles.
The former political director of Conservative Friends of Israel told the Jewish News: “Education and skills is my passion so am I delighted to have been elected by MPs from all parties. My driving force is to ensure that education is a ladder of opportunity for all ensuring social justice, and improving the skills and productivity of our nation.”
Halfon, known for his campaigning successes, said his priorities would include improving stands in numeracy and literacy in schools and the “need for an expansion in adult education, plugging the skills deficit”. He will also seek to “refocus careers advice to cover skills and vocational opportunities”.
Meanwhile, Britain’s newest Jewish MP was elected to the environmental audit committee, days after his maiden speech called for action to tackle climate change.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
