Following the recent UK parliamentary elections which saw the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats form a coalition, the new Cabinet has been formed.

These are the key ministers now responsible for children and young people, who come from both sides of the coalition:

Secretary of State for Education – Michael Gove MP
Michael Gove was elected to represent Surrey Heath in parliament in 2005 after a career in journalism. He was the Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families before moving to his current role and has said he is “passionately committed to raising standards in state schools and helping children from less privileged backgrounds to maximise their potential”.

Minister of State for Children and Families – Sarah Teather MP
Sarah Teather was first elected to Parliament in the Brent East constituency as Britain’s youngest MP in 2003. Since then she has worked as Liberal Democrat education spokesperson and universities spokesperson and immediately before the election was the Lib Dem Shadow Minister for Housing. She beat off competition from Labour to win the newly-formed Brent Central constituency.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families – Tim Loughton MP
Tim Loughton was elected to parliament in East Worthing and Shoreham in 1997 and has been the Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Children since 2003. He played a central role in the formulation of the Conservative plans for a voluntary National Citizen’s Service for 16 year olds. On his appointment to his new position in the Department for Education, he said: "I am absolutely delighted that the Prime Minister has asked me to take on this role... There is a great deal to be done to improve the lives of young people – particularly vulnerable young people – and I look forward to putting the ideas we developed in Opposition into practice."