Former schools ministers Robin Walker and Jonathan Gullis will run to become the next chair of the Parliamentary education committee.
Walker, who resigned in July over Boris Johnson’s leadership and Gullis, who was fired last week in Rishi Sunak’s first reshuffle, have both confirmed they will seek election to the role.
David Simmonds, a former committee member who used to chair the Local Government Association children and young people board, has also confirmed he will run for the job.
The chair position is vacant after Robert Halfon, who has served in the role since 2017, returned to the Department for Education as a minister. It is understood he is returning to his old skills brief.
Halfon’s place must be taken by a Conservative. So far Gullis, Walker and Simmonds have confirmed they are running.
