Education Secretary Gavin Williamson says he was visiting family in Scarborough amid claims he was on holiday during exam crisis

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has hit back at claims he was on holiday during the exam crisis this month - saying he was visiting family in Scarborough.
Gavin Williamson in his office in WestminsterGavin Williamson in his office in Westminster
Gavin Williamson in his office in Westminster

The Yorkshire-born MP was accused of going on holiday just days before teenagers received their A-Level results in an article by The Sunday Times, which also alleged he had cancelled a key meeting to make the trip.

But the 44-year-old said he had cancelled his family holiday to focus on the coronavirus crisis and was in constant communication with the Department for Education during his time in Yorkshire.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His tweet said: "I cancelled our family holiday abroad this year to focus on the challenges COVID-19 created for the education sector. Over the summer, I went to see family in Scarborough for the first time since lockdown, and while there I was in constant communication with the Department."

Grades for A level students had originally been based on an algorithm, seeing thousands of students being marked down or left in limbo over university places, but were then reverted back to using teachers' assessed grades.

The Education Secretary, who grew up in Scarborough but now represents the South Staffordshire constituency in Parlimament, is facing mounting calls to resign following the embarrassing U-turn over the exam grades fiasco.

--------------------

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you'll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you

James Mitchinson

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.