Tory rising star appointed to key housing role

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has appointed rising star Katie Lam (pictured) as the new Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

She faces Angela Rayner as her opposite number in the House of Commons.

Lam was chosen for the role after James Cleverly decided to quit and run as the Tory candidate to be London Mayor, and as part of a wider reshuffle of the party’s front bench line-up.

And she has already issued a statement making clear her priority is to deal with rising rents: “Under Labour, rent is up. Council tax is up. People who work hard and do the right thing are finding it harder than ever to get on the housing ladder.”

Only elected as an MP, for Weald of Kent, two years ago, Lam is regarded as one of its brightest talents. She was previously a shadow home office minister, but now takes up her first position in the shadow cabinet.

Revolving door

Cleverly had been Shadow Housing Secretary since July 2025 but announced last weekend that he wants to run as the party’s candidate for the mayoral elections in 2028.

It was on his watch that the Conservatives announced their flagship policy of scrapping Stamp Duty if they win the next general election.

There was a rapid turnover of housing ministers when the Conservatives were in power for 14 years. A roll call of 16 different politicians filled the role in what became seen as a revolving door.