Stuart Andrew has been appointed as the new Housing Minister following a mini-cabinet reshuffle by PM Boris Johnson.
Stuart Andrew will replace Christopher Pincher, who has been in position as Housing Minister since February 2020.
Prior to today’s reshuffle, Mr Andrew held the role of deputy chief whip of the House of Commons and treasurer of HM Household. Mr Andrew has also served as MP for the Pudsey, West Yorkshire, constituency since 2010, as well as parliamentary under-secretary roles in the Wales Office and the Ministry of Defence.
In terms of voting history, Mr Andrew and 71 other Conservative MPs, voted against an amendment to the Housing and Planning Bill that would require private landlords to make their homes “fit for human habitation” in 2016.
Mr Andrew previously voted to phase out secure tenancies and to require those on high incomes living in social housing to pay market rent. Mr Andrew also voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability and is a supporter of the bedroom tax.
Mr Andrew’s new responsibilities will include homeownership programmes, housing strategy, housing delivery, Home England stewardship, the Affordable Housing Programme, planning reform, homebuying and selling, and planning casework.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said:
“The appointment of Stuart Andrew MP as the new Housing Minister comes at a crucial time for the industry. He has a mandate to deliver 300,000 homes but inherits a declining sector of SME builders to support this. I look forward to working constructively with the new Minister to deliver a much-needed boost for small, local housebuilders. This will not only help plug the gap in housing stock, but will also play a vital role in levelling up the country, as who better to enable this than small, community-centric builders.”
It has not yet been announced whether Mr Pincher has been given a new role.
One Response
Unless the government addresses fairness in dealing with existing leaseholders like my wife and me, you will never get our support again. We are paid up members of the Tory party and will not renew.