Reshuffle latest: Lee Rowley appointed as Housing Minister
Rowley becomes the sixth housing minister in 17 months in what has become a revolving door at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Lee Rowley has been appointed Housing Minister – the 16th Housing Minister since 2010 – after Rachel Maclean was sacked this morning after just over nine months in the role.
Rowley has been a minister at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) but previously held the briefs for planning and local government, and has now been moved solely to cover housing, replacing Maclean.
Rowley (main picture) becomes the sixth housing minister in 17 months in what has become a revolving door at the DLUHC.
He held the post previously, last year for less than two months, before being replaced by Lucy Frazer.
RESHUFFLING
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been reshuffling his Cabinet and junior ministerial team today after removing controversial Suella Braverman as Home Secretary.
Nick Leeming, Chairman of Jackson-Stops, says: “After just 279 days in the role Housing Minister Rachel Maclean has been sacked by the Prime Minister in what has become another manic Monday for the Government.
“The timing for a new housing minister couldn’t have been worse, with Maclean due to introduce the Renters Reform Bill tomorrow, and the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement less than two weeks away.
“With recent news that housebuilding has fallen to its lowest level since the financial crisis, there is mounting pressure for the Government to produce a reliable and experienced figurehead to this role, and quickly.
“House prices are often a barometer of health of the wider economy, giving challenges as well as opportunities ahead of the next general election.
“Meanwhile, the sector remains hopeful that the Chancellor can offer a sense of stability and structure on November 22nd where other departments cannot.”
REVOLVING DOOR
Nick Sanderson, Chief Executive of Audley Group, adds: “The appointment of David Cameron to the Cabinet might garner the headlines, but it shouldn’t detract from revolving door that is the UK’s Housing Minister.
“The housing market needs reform, and that’s difficult to achieve without any kind of stability.
“Lack of in-depth knowledge about the housing market leads to knee jerk decisions to increase housing supply and focus on first time buyers, rather than holistic possibilities that increase supply and flow within the market.
“Let’s hope the next appointment is the last for a while so the focus can turn from personalities to real progress.”
Since the year 2000, we have had 24 housing ministers, that is two dozen of them in just 23 years. But do any stick in our memory as being outstanding? Or can anyone remember a thing that they did which helped housing?
We have had Nick Raynsford, Charles Falconer, Jeffrey Rooker, Keith Hill, Yvette Cooper, Caroline Flint, Margaret Beckett, John Healey, Grant Shapps, Mark Prisk, Kris Hopkins, Brandon Lewis, Brandon Barwell, Alok Sharma, Dominic Raab, Kit Malthouse, Esther McVey, Christopher Pincher, Stuart Andrew, Marcus Jones, Lee Rowley for the first time, Lucy Frazer, Rachel Maclean and for a return visit Lee Rowley.
If like me you cannot remember any of them, or what they did, it is because many were in office for a few short months: Rachael Maclean was only in office nine-months, but that was longer than any of the four ministers who had come before her.
I’m voting for Colin’s mum.
I totally agree with Nick Sanderson comments however I would just like to add that the way the Government is handling other issues it won’t belong before the door revolves again and in pops No 17 ! My dear Mum is 88 yrs old isn’t an MP “not that it seems to matter these days” and could have done a better job than any of the previous 15 Housing Ministers over the last 13 years