Nadhim Zahawi appointed as education secretary

Nadhim Zahawi has been appointed education secretary in Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle, replacing Gavin Williamson.

Previously, Zahawi was responsible for the Covid vaccines roll-out and has worked at the Department for Education before as children’s minister from January 2018 to July 2019.

During his time as children’s minister, Zahawi commissioned further research into the issue of holiday hunger, which led to the wider rollout of the government’s holiday activities and food programme.

Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Zahawi was privately educated in England.

He is believed to be the first ever non-white education secretary.