The new Housing Secretary is to be Simon Clarke who, at 37, may be the youngest member of Liz Truss’s first Cabinet.

Unlike some of his predecessors Clarke has modest experience of his new brief.

The Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP was most recently the Chief Secretary to the Treasury but was – relatively briefly – a junior minister of state at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in February 2020.

Clarke, who has agoraphobia, is a qualified solicitor.

He is the sixth secretary of state since ‘housing’ was added to the department’s title in 2018 and follows his predecessor, Greg Clark, who was appointed by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson only nine weeks ago.

After his promotion overnight he said: “It’s a huge honour to be appointed Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

“Delivering on levelling up for communities in all parts of our country, unlocking the homes we need and supporting the economic growth that is so central to Liz Truss’ government is our mission – will give it my all.

“This is a department that I know really well, and which I am so looking forward to returning to – the commitment and expertise of officials there on themes as diverse as homelessness, building safety and devolution is second to none.”

Clarke also paid tribute to Greg Clark by saying: “There are real achievements, from the new homelessness strategy to the new East Midlands Mayoralty – but more than that, he has led the Department with his customary good humour, tact and intelligence. A class act.”

At this stage it is uncertain if there are to be junior housing ministers and, if so, whether they are to be as numerous as in the past. 

New Prime Minister Liz Truss says she wants to slim down government – that may become obvious if she appoints fewer junior ministers to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.