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There is no point in the sector whingeing about changes of housing minister

Chris Wood calls on the sector to stop whingeing and instead focus on making the argument for housing’s importance more effectively

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Sector leaders have complained about the ministerial ‘merry-go-round’ (picture:Getty)
Sector leaders have complained about the ministerial ‘merry-go-round’ (picture:Getty)
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Stop whingeing about changes of housing minister, writes @Chris_Altair #ukhousing

The sector should focus more on making the argument for housing, rather than whingeing says @Chris_Altair #ukhousing

“Demanding ministerial stability in the housing role is a little like demanding the sky to be green” writes @Chris_Altair #ukhousing

A good friend of mine recently moved into a very senior role in the housing sector, his previous role was out of sector.

We recently met for a catch up lunch and I asked him how it was going.

Among his first impressions of working in the housing sector was the startling capacity of opinion leaders to whinge.

Housing crises were always the fault of someone else.

Those of us working in the sector dedicated to social reform and improving the condition and supply of housing were continually thwarted by outside forces who didn’t listen, didn’t care and didn’t act in our best interests.
The front page story of Inside Housing last week is a classic case of this malaise, it had the headline: “Dismay at ministerial merry-go-round”.

The housing sector calls on the government for stability. Apparently we are “frustrated" and “crying out" for some ministerial stability.


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I don’t know Dominic Raab, but one glance at his CV tells you he is a hugely bright career politician. He may have aspirations to be leader of the Conservative Party one day, or even prime minister. He’s an Oxford and Cambridge graduate who practised as a lawyer with Linklaters.

He developed an interest or specialism in international affairs in the Foreign Office before being elected as a MP in 2010.

The housing portfolio was always a stepping stone for him to greater office (as it is for most politicians) and now he is closer to centre stage, where I assume he wants to be.

Some people see this as ambition – and what is wrong with that? Show me a chief executive in the housing sector who didn’t have ambition.

I know lots of politicians and the more able of them want to hold more senior roles out of an ambition to have greater influence in order to do good (in their eyes). I don’t resent Mr Raab for moving on.

“Demanding ministerial stability in the housing role is a little like demanding the sky to be green, it’s pointless.”

In fact, I wish him well. I don’t resent Theresa May for promoting him – she probably sees him as emerging talent and it will certainly be tested in his new role.

What I do resent is my colleagues in the housing sector whingeing and crying out.

Demanding ministerial stability in the housing role is a little like demanding the sky to be green, it’s pointless.

But is also diverts attention away from the fact that we continue not to win the argument, if they are not listening.

If they are not caring and if they are not acting – it is because we are not making the argument effectively enough.

And whingeing is no argument at all.

Chris Wood, partner, Altair

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