Revolving door continues to swing as new housing ministers are appointed

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed a new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and a new housing minister

The little known Robert Jenrick, 37, takes on the senior role, while former TV presenter Esther McVey becomes housing minister.

Jenrick has been an MP since 2014, representing Newark. During the by-election campaign, he was attacked for owning several houses. However, his views on the housing market are not clear.

McVey, 51, takes over from Kit Malthouse. She was previously Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, responsible for Universal Credit, and had junior posts in the Cameron government. Her views on the housing market are also unknown.

Mark Hayward and David Cox, bosses of NAEA and ARLA Propertymarket respectively, said last night: “We welcome Robert Jenrick into his new role as Secretary of State for Housing.

“Over the last 12 months, housing has been high on the political agenda, with James Brokenshire and his team working closely with the industry to regulate the market and helping to release those stuck in a leasehold life sentence.

“We look forward to meeting the new Secretary of State and his team over the coming months and hope the department’s position and policy focus stays on track.

“The previous Government made great strides in trying to fix the broken housing market and last week’s announcement to regulate the industry was a significant moment and a huge leap forward in stamping out bad practice.

“We have long called for Government intervention to ensure everyone in the industry is licensed, adheres to a strict code of practice and holds at least a Level 3 qualification (equivalent to A-level). We look forward to working with the new Government to ensure the work on this continues.”

The rest of the housing line-up has yet to be announced.

A lawyer by background, Jenrick was previously a junior Treasury minister.

He was appointed as Brokenshire announced on Twitter that he is returning to the back benches.

Brokenshire was appointed to the role in April 2018, when he took over from predecessor Sajid Javid, now appointed Chancellor.

Brokenshire, who arguably became better known for the number of ovens in his home, yesterday tweeted: “It has been a huge privilege to serve.”

McVey, meanwhile, will have a job to convince the industry that she will be around for more than a few weeks or months. She becomes the 17th housing minister since 2000.

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6 Comments

  1. Will2

    The constant interference with the property market has not fixed it and merely lead to instability.  Landlords and agents have been subjected to unrelenting attacks and financial raids by greedy and dishonest councils fighting for borough wide licensing like lewisham at the moment. Not because it is needed but because it will produce funds. Such unprofessional conduct is not worthy of any body that is given enforcement duties. How can anyone trust any political organisation.  Still here we go; another day another minister!  Mind you glad Brokenshire has gone as he was responsible for the immigration checks and blue tape involved (conservative equivalent of red tape).

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  2. jeremy1960

    Oh goodie goodie, yet another minister with zero experience of our industry telling us what to do! When will gov learn the importance of housing and appoint a truly independent industry based non political body to run the show?

     

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  3. AgentM

    To be fair, Robert Jenrick does seem to have some experience of property:

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2645084/Newark-election-Tory-candidate-Robert-Jenrick-says-just-three-homes-doesnt-mean-I-dont-know-life-breadline.html

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  4. LandlordsandLetting

    Jenrick is almost young enough to be one of Boris’s sons. It seems that children and TV presenters are now taking over government – could it get any worse?

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  5. DarrelKwong43

    McVeigh is to the right of the Tory Party….in fact so right, she could reverse the tenant fee ban, and end the consultation of banning section 21 notices

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    1. Will2

      I would like to have those thoughts!!!!  Reverseing tenant fee ban – not even a remote chance.  It would be good to stop abolition of s21.  I am not sure who actually writes their manefesto – started to think it was Shelter and Generation Rant!

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