Nicky Morgan
The new education secretary Nicky Morgan previously voted against same-sex marriage Getty

The appointment of Nicky Morgan to education secretary in David Cameron's Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday has been met with mixed reactions, over her vote against same-sex marriage last year.

While others celebrate the departure of Morgan's predecessor Michael Gove, social media users have been quick to point out that the new secretary, who continues as minister for women and equalities, previously stated that marriage could only be between a man and a woman.

Elected to Parliament in 2010, Morgan voted against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act at second and third reading in 2013.

In a government reshuffle in April, sparked by the resignation of Maria Miller as culture secretary over her expenses, Morgan was appointed financial secretary to the Treasury and minister for women.

Today, Mr Cameron tweeted that Morgan "continues as minister for women and equalities" after it was revealed she had been promoted to education secretary.

A spokesperson told Pink News that the equalities brief would be moved to the Department for Education.

Morgan, a trustee of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, voted against same-sex marriage partly because she could not reconcile it with her faith.

It is suspected that this is likely to be the reason that Cameron split the women and equalities brief, handing the latter to Sajid Javid, the culture secretary, and leading to accusations that Morgan was the "minister for straight women".

Since the vote, Morgan has insisted that she is "absolutely pro same-sex relationships" and has "many gay friends" and that the law, now passed, must be respected.

She has also stressed that she is "completely pro-choice" on abortion, another often-controversial issue for Christian ministers.

Last month, she was also slapped down by Conservative HQ for suggesting during an online chat with Mumsnet that all-women shortlists would not be off the table if the party did not get more female MPs at the next election.

It has emerged since that Cameron is also open to the idea on a "voluntary" basis, as long as they are not imposed on constituencies.

Various social media users have commented negatively on Morgan's appointment, including journalist Owen Jones:

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