The revolving door policy of housing ministers continues as Christopher Pincher MP replaces outgoing Esther McVey MP.
Image: Esther McVey MP and Christopher Pincher MP, courtesy of UK Parliament
Esther Mcvey MP is the latest in a long line of housing ministers to lose their jobs. Prime minister Boris Johnson sacked her from the role in his cabinet reshuffle on 13 February 2020. Shortly after the news broke, the ex-housing minister tweeted, ‘I’m very sorry to be relieved of my duties as Housing Minister. I wish my successor the very best & every success.’
Image: Kevin McCloud interviewing former housing minister Kit Malthouse MP at Grand Designs Live 2019
Ms McVey spent just 205 days in the role, 276 days less than her predecessor Kit Malthouse MP, who managed to hold the position for just over a year.
Mr Malthouse was asked by Kevin McCloud at Grand Designs Live London in May 2019 what his priorities were in the role. ‘Well, the overriding priority for me is essentially numbers, he said. ‘I've been given the target of building 300,000 new homes by the mid 2020s.’ Housing supply figures released by the Government in December 2019 reveal that 213,860 new-build homes were achieved in 2018-19, an increase of 18,570 homes compared to the 2017-18 figure of 195,290. But, still a way to go to reach the 300,000-a-year target.
It remains to be seen how long the new housing minister Christopher Pincher MP will stay in office and whether the Government’s new homes target will be achieved under his watch.
Those wanting to build their own home will also be hoping that there will be a renewed commitment from local authorities, under the Right To Build legislation, to satisfy the demand for self and custom-build plots. Figures from the National Custom & Self Build Association (NaCSBA) indicate that 13,000 self-builds were completed in the 2018-19 financial year.
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