Three takeaways for Jo Johnson

On the final day of the Conservative Party conference, Andy Westwood reflects on lessons learned by Jo Johnson, minister for universities and science.

Conference season wraps up this afternoon with Theresa May’s speech to the party ‘faithful’ (other Conservatives are also available) at the top of the menu. Having started the week with pledges to reform higher education by freezing fees and increasing the repayment threshold, many will hope that she leaves it at that.

Jo Johnson will probably be one of them. As minister for higher education, he has been predictably busy with fringe events and dinners and at most he’s had to field questions on the announcements in the Sunday newspapers and May’s interview with Andrew Marr.