Nicky Morgan in the naughty corner

With Nicky Morgan the new Peter Bone of the Conservative party, the former Education Secretary is making her mark at this year’s conference as a Cameroon without a brief. Her opposition to Theresa May’s grammar school plans has not gone down well with No.10. Today Patrick McLoughlin used his interview with the Mirror to question why Morgan had allowed a grammar school to expand during her tenure if she was so against the idea.

So, perhaps that’s why May has decided to keep a close eye on Morgan at this year’s event. Morgan was part of a panel discussion this morning titled ‘inequality in education’. While she used the session to re-iterate her concerns, it didn’t go unnoticed that she had some special attendees in the audience. ‘I’ve got the whips. I’ve got two whips in the room,’ she noted to laughter from the audience. ‘Gentlemen, I know what it’s like but it’s very nice to have you here.