Gillian Keegan was on holiday in Spain as crumbling schools crisis kicked off

Gillian Keegan was on holiday in Spain last week when the school concrete crisis first unfolded, it has been revealed. The revelation adds to the pressure The Education secretary has come under after being criticised for mishandling the closure of more than 100 schools because of fears over crumbling concrete, just days before the start of term.

The Education secretary has been slammed by fuming Tories as a “damning indictment” of Rishi Sunak’s cabinet after she claimed she was doing a “f***ing good job” in a hot mic TV clip.

She was caught out as when she said others had “sat on their a****” without knowing her mic was still on after an interview with ITV News. The comments came after politicians called for Rishi Sunak and his cabinet to “get a grip” over the school concrete crisis.

Ms Keegan was later forced by Downing Street to apologise for swearing on TV.

Thousands of pupils started lessons in pandemic-style remote lessons while teachers spent last week scrambling to construct tented classrooms in a desperate attempt to keep schools open.

Meanwhile, parents were rushing to find last-minute childcare as they juggled remote schooling with their full-time work.

It has emerged that Ms Keegan was on holiday in Spain, where she owns properties in Madrid and Marbella, last week.

Aides revealed she was “working from home” between August 25 and 31, when the Department for Education announced 100 schools would close, according to the Telegraph.

One Tory MP told the publication: “The way she’s conducted herself – in particular in that ITV interview – shows she is selfish and shameless and not fit to stay in office.

“It’s a damning indictment of Rishi Sunak and the people he has appointed to his Cabinet.”

“She’s been hiding behind process and has been found wanting on public empathy, and has failed to engage with councils and MPs. What she’s doing now is too late – the damage has been done, and kids’ education will be affected.”

Another Tory MP added they thought Ms Keegan had been “over-promoted”, and one other said she was on her last chance to keep her position in government.