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Tim Loughton restores the Queen's portrait at the Department for Education

By Paul Goodman

Screen shot 2010-09-09 at 06.54.27 Jonathan reported recently that at the insistence of Eric Pickles a portrait of the Queen has been installed at the DCLG.

I can now report similar good news from the Department for Education.

Tim Loughton, the Education Minister, spotted recently that it displayed no picture of the Queen.  Having made a few enquiries, he discovered that one had once been in place  - but was removed roughly seven years ago (under a Labour Government, needless to say).

It was removed at the instigation of a civil servant, I gather.  History records that from 24 October 2002 to 15 December 2004 the Education Secretary was Charles Clarke.  His predecessor was Estelle Morris; his successor Ruth Kelly.

At any rate, a decision has been taken to restore the portrait and an unveiling is "imminent".  The cost of the move is apparently a princely £199.

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