Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Ruth Kelly: Brown ally takes over Education

The new education secretary

Marie Woolf
Wednesday 15 December 2004 20:00 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ruth Kelly, the new Education Secretary, was in typically forthright mood last week as she explained plans to cut the pensions of senior civil servants. "They scoop the pensions pot," she explained in her trademark London accent.

The former Bank of England's economist's meteoric rise through the government ranks is remarkable not only because she is only 36, but because since being elected in 1997 she has established her ministerial career while bringing up four young children.

A devout Catholic, Ms Kelly has impressed both the Chancellor Gordon Brown, who she worked with at the Treasury, first as Economic Secretary and then as Financial Secretary, and Tony Blair for her straightforward, no nonsense style.

She is rated as one of the most formidable female performers in the Labour ranks, and at the despatch box has beaten opposition MPs into submission by reeling off statistics and blinding them with complicated economic arguments.

Educated at Westminster School, Oxford University and the LSE, Ms Kelly is one of the cleverest ministers on the government benches. But she is well liked by colleagues because she is not one for airs or graces and has no taste for Labour's political machinations.

Although she has been placed in the Brown camp, she has been careful to steer clear of the manoeuvring in Whitehall.

Ms Kelly is also extremely hard-working, juggling nappy changing with her ministerial job. At the Treasury, where she concentrated on policy, she was able to leave the office early and leave her red boxes in Whitehall.

She may find the requirement to visit schools and universities a tricky proposition as her children are still very young and until now she has tried to get home in time to put them to bed.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in