Rishi Sunak to appoint sixteenth Housing Minister since 2010 as young people struggle to get on housing ladder
RISHI Sunak will appoint the Tories’ sixteenth housing minister in today’s reshuffle since the party seized power in 2010.
The Prime Minister faced major backlash across the political divide as there was a further change of personnel in the vote-winning issue.
Cabinet Minister Kemi Badenoch vented her frustration at the sacking saying she was “very sorry” to see Rachel Maclean leave.
She said: “Very sorry to see you leave government,
“You were an excellent, minister, always attentive to MPs and their constituents and got some very tricky legislation over the line!”
The message was then retweeted by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove amid widespread anger across government.
Ex-Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: “16th Tory housing minister! We’ve had more new ministers than new council houses…”
Senior Tories have seen a collapse in support among younger voters who are paying high rents but are unable to get on the property ladder.
Critics blasted the government as they become the eighth person to hold the position in the past four years.
Office holders since the start of the last decade have included current Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, backbencher Esther McVey and Dominic Raab.
Housing Minister Rachel Maclean was sacked by the PM on the eve of new legislation which will aim to abolish “no-fault” evictions.
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She said: “I’ve been asked to step down from my role as Housing Minister.
“Disappointed and was looking forward to introducing the Renters Reform Bill to Committee tomorrow and later the Leasehold and Freehold Bill.
“It has been a privilege to hold the position and I wish my successor well.”
The government in its 2019 election manifesto set a target of building 300,000 homes every year by the middle of the mid-2020s.
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But Rishi Sunak ditched central housing targets saying it would give councils more flexibility.
But in ramping up the pressure on the government, Sir Keir Starmer says Labour would build 1.5 million homes within five years of an election victory.
In his conference speech, he said he would “bulldoze through” a planning system stopping people from buying a house.