What AGE are the Greatest Edu Secretaries?

With mutterings about Cabinet reshuffles I was interested to see Rachel Reeves mentioned as a potential Shadow Education Secretary (though word on the street is that this is now unlikely). Reeves is great, but she’s still quite young. If she became Shadow Sec, and Labour won in 2015, and she remained in post – she would be the youngest ever Edu Sec.

That is not necessarily a problem. Both Rab Butler & Edward Boyle were in their 30s when they took the role and are regularly named as being among ‘the greats’. However, Ruth Kelly’s disasterous turn at the helm has since made people nervous of youth.

Fun Facts!

Mean age on entry – 50 

There is also most no difference between the parties. Labour average age on entry is 50.5, Conservative is 49.5.

The youngest EduSec is Ruth Kelly, who started age 36

The oldest was Keith Joseph, who began when he was 63

Age on Entry

Ruth Kelly	36
Rab Butler	38
Edward Boyle	39
Edward Balls	40
Michael Gove	42
Richard Law	44
Margaret Thatcher	44
Anthony Crosland	46
Shirley Williams	46
John Patten	46
Estelle Morris	48
Quintin Hogg	49
Mark Carlisle	49
David Blunkett	49
David Eccles	50
Reg Prentice	50
Kenneth Clarke	50
Kenneth Baker	51
John MacGregor	52
Charles Clarke	52
Ellen Wilkinson	54
Gillian Shephard	54
Geoffrey Lloyd	55
Edward Short	55
Alan Johnson	55
George Tomlinso	56
Fred Mulley	56
Michael Stewart	57
Patrick Gordon Walker	60
Florence Horsbrugh	62
Keith Joseph	63