Sir James Cleverly, who was education secretary for two months during the downfall of Boris Johnson鈥檚 premiership, has joined the education select committee.聽 Cleverly will replace Patrick Spencer, the now independent MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, who was suspended by the Conservative Party following sexual assault allegations. Spencer has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault and faces a crown court trial next month.聽 A in the House of Commons this afternoon will officially discharge Spencer and appoint to the education committee. The Conservatives hold two positions on the committee. The other is held by Caroline Johnson. Cleverly was appointed education secretary by Boris Johnson in July 2022. It came in the wake of an exodus of ministers from Boris Johnson鈥檚 government in the summer of 2022. He 聽after Michelle Donelan served just 35 hours in the role.聽 After two months, he was promoted to foreign secretary when Liz Truss became prime minister. And after last year鈥檚 general election, he stood unsuccessfully for leader of the Conservative Party. He鈥檚 kept a low profile as a backbench MP since Kemi Badenoch won the race. This is not the first time the education committee has had members who were former DfE ministers. In the last parliament, Robert Halfon was appointed to chair the committee after a stint as skills and apprenticeships minister. Committee Conservatives Parliament鈥檚 education select committee has four live : children鈥檚 social care, further education and skills, solving the SEND crisis and higher education funding. Schools minister Catherine McKinnell to the committee tomorrow morning to answer questions on the government鈥檚 SEND reform plans. She will appear alongside DfE鈥檚 SEND director Alison Ismail. Following Spencer鈥檚 suspension, the Conservatives have only had one representative on the committee, Caroline Johnson. In an聽聽for the committee鈥檚 further education inquiry last week, Johnson and the two Liberal Democrat members did not attend, leaving just Labour members scrutinising a Labour minister.