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New housing secretary appointed as Javid reshuffled
The prime minister has moved Sajid Javid to head up the Home Office, with James Brokenshire taking up the housing secretary role.
Breaking: new housing secretary appointed as Javid reshuffled #ukhousingJames Brokenshire has been appointed housing secretary #ukhousingFollowing the resignation of Amber Rudd last night over deportation targets, Mr Javid will lead the Home Office after two years as communities secretary. In January, housing was added to Mr Javid’s brief as Theresa May said fixing the housing crisis was central to her mission.
Mr Brokenshire was previously secretary of state for Northern Ireland from 2016 until January this year. Prior to this he was a minister of state for the Home Office.
Honoured to have been asked by the Prime Minister to serve as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government. Looking forward to taking the Government’s agenda forward especially on building the homes our country needs. @mhclg
— James Brokenshire (@JBrokenshire)Honoured to have been asked by the Prime Minister to serve as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government. Looking forward to taking the Government’s agenda forward especially on building the homes our country needs. @mhclg
— James Brokenshire (@JBrokenshire) April 30, 2018
David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said: “We welcome Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP to his new role and look forward to working with him to tackle this country’s long-standing housing crisis.
“Genuinely affordable homes are desperately needed. Though housing associations are committed to delivering on the government’s rightly ambitious house-building targets, they urgently need government to make more affordable land available to achieve this.
“As we approach the anniversary of the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, we also continue to work with the ministry in responding to the recommendations of the Hackitt review and ensuring all homes are safe.
“Over the last few years we have worked closely with the Secretary of State and seen a number of positive policies introduced aiming to help those hit by the housing crisis, from people who are homeless to first time buyers. Brokenshire has a big job on his hands to ensure we continue moving in the right direction.”
Terrie Alafat, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: “Sajid Javid has made an important contribution as Secretary of State. During his time in the role housing has become a top domestic priority for the government and we’ve seen an important shift in the narrative on housing - including a move to a more balanced view of the response we need to solve our housing crisis.
“We wish Mr Javid the best in his new role and we welcome James Brokenshire to the role of Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
“We look forward to working with Mr Brokenshire at this crucial time, as we seek to tackle the acute housing challenges we face.”
David Montague, chief executive of L&Q, said: “Sajid Javid has made a sterling contribution towards addressing our housing crisis over the last two years and we are sorry to see him move on from his role.
“L&Q has enjoyed a good working relationship with James Brokenshire at a constituency level over many years, and he has demonstrated a sound understanding of the complex issues involved in housing.
“We look forward to continuing that relationship, while also working with him to help deliver the government’s housing ambitions and increase the supply of much-needed affordable, quality homes.”
Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: “While it is disappointing to lose Sajid Javid from housing, we welcome James Brokenshire and look forward to working with him to drive forward the government’s multi-tenure approach to new housing delivery and the policy changes to the National Planning Policy Framework. These changes underpin the government’s agenda on so many levels – providing the right homes in the right places will increase UK productivity, economic growth and social wellbeing in the long term.”
Brokenshire appointment – reaction on Twitter
More instant reaction to Brokenshire’s appointment from social housing figures:
Didn't agree with everything @sajidjavid did but he seemed to understand the need to take a big step out of the Tory comfort zone on housing and wanted to do more than No 10 and HMT let him. Much at stake when his successor named
— Jules Birch (@jules_birch)Didn't agree with everything @sajidjavid did but he seemed to understand the need to take a big step out of the Tory comfort zone on housing and wanted to do more than No 10 and HMT let him. Much at stake when his successor named
— Jules Birch (@jules_birch) April 30, 2018
Housing caught up in the backwash of ministerial resignations again.. Sajid Javid is new Home Secretary. We’ll have a new Minister of Housing Communities and Local Gov. Don’t tell me Rabb will be shifted too.... @insidehousing
— peter walters (@peterwalt7)Housing caught up in the backwash of ministerial resignations again.. Sajid Javid is new Home Secretary. We’ll have a new Minister of Housing Communities and Local Gov. Don’t tell me Rabb will be shifted too.... @insidehousing
— peter walters (@peterwalt7) April 30, 2018
Good luck to @sajidjavid in his new role as Home Secretary and welcome @JBrokenshire to your new role at @mhclg - we look forward to working with you to tackle the #ukhousing crisis
— Chartered Institute of Housing (@CIHhousing)Good luck to @sajidjavid in his new role as Home Secretary and welcome @JBrokenshire to your new role at @mhclg - we look forward to working with you to tackle the #ukhousing crisis
— Chartered Institute of Housing (@CIHhousing) April 30, 2018
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