Boris Johnson has appointed Stuart Andrew as the new housing minister, making him the 11th person to hold the position in 12 years.
Andrew, the MP for Pudsey in West Yorkshire, replaced Christopher Pincher as the prime minister reshuffled his cabinet yesterday. He will now be working with Michael Gove, the secretary of state for the government’s flagship levelling-up agenda.
On accepting his new role as housing minister, Andrew reportedly told the prime minister that he had grown up on a council estate and been “very struck” with what the Right to Buy scheme, which allowed council tenants to buy their home – had achieved.
Andrew reportedly said giving people the opportunity to buy their own properties was the surest way to convert people from Labour to Tory.
While the now former deputy chief whip he is a fan of Right to Buy, he is not so keen on the “fit for human habitation” in the rented sector, which he voted against.
Pincher was the longest-serving housing Minister for more than a decade, with two years’ service, but some critics, dismayed by the regular churn of different ministers, feel he should have been given more time in the role to help fix the housing crisis.
Andrew will now be in charge of meeting the government’s target to building 300,000 homes a year.
Low interest rates are making property more affordable for more people, the capital growth and income yields far outstrips many other financial investments so demand for property far outstrips supply.
Telling people they can own property is great if practically they manage to find somewhere to buy. I’m not so sure those locked out of home ownership because of economic policy see the blinkered benefits Mr. Andrew sees
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