Michael Gove has been announced as the new Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
He returns to the post he was sacked from in July, forming another piece of the puzzle that is new prime minister Rishi Sunak’s cabinet.
This comes as Simon Clarke was ousted earlier on Tuesday, paving the way for Gove to return to the post in which he was succeeded by Greg Clark, and then Simon Clarke. Gove has also become the Minister for Intergovernmental Relations.
While Gove was indeed sacked amid the Chris Pincher scandal that rocked Downing Street earlier this year, he – along with Johnson – was in the midst of a wide review of mortgage finance and the housing market.
His return may have a positive impact on housing policies such as the return of right to buy, the building of new houses, leasehold reform and cladding remediation – with some reports suggesting his return is an attempt to “finish what he started”.
The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP @MichaelGove has been appointed Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations @LUHC.#Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/OfBKF2v4lx
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 25, 2022
Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns for Propertymark, commented:
“The Levelling Up agenda and reforms to the private rented sector in England would appear to be back and will take centre stage in the new government as Michael Gove returns to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Mr Gove previously focussed on regional disparities and fixing the cladding scandal, but he now needs to go further and tackle the supply crisis in the private rented sector, implement the next steps for leasehold reform, set out the UK Government’s plans for home buying and selling as well engage with the sector to get more people onto the housing ladder and stimulate right sizing to release large, family homes.”
Outgoing housing secretary Simon Clarke said it had been a “great privilege” to serve in the role, adding that “it [has] only been while holding these positions that I’ve come to appreciate the full weight of responsibility that ministers bear”.
It has been a great privilege to serve as Secretary of State @luhc, working alongside some terrific people to #LevelUp our communities, just as it was before that as Chief Secretary @hmtreasury.
— Simon Clarke MP (@SimonClarkeMP) October 25, 2022
