Concern has been expressed at the rapid turnover of housing ministers, whether all of them are up to the job, and whether they wield any real power.
Britain is now on its 15th housing minister in 20 years. The job changes hands on average every 14 months, meaning that the next housing minister could be along in just 427 days’ time – August next year, even if the current government remains in power. The latest housing minister, Alok Sharma, was appointed just two days ago.
The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association said that the turnover of housing ministers far outstrips the rate at which the average Briton moves home – once every 19 years – and called for a cross-party approach to housing.
IMLA executive director Peter Williams said the “chronic” shortage of new homes and the need for a joined-up policy across all tenures are the major challenges.
He said: “With talk turning to the need for cross-party agreement and a common approach to negotiating Brexit, it would surely make sense to adopt a similar consensual, non-partisan approach to determining housing policy to put the UK property market on a more stable footing for the long term.”
Separately, Ian McKenzie, CEO of the Guild of Property Professionals, said: “I welcome the news of the appointment of a new housing minister after waiting for five days after the General Election result.
“However, I am concerned by Alok Sharma’s lack of industry experience. There’s no doubt that his background in accountancy will help with the role, but the housing market is in crisis.
“We need a government representative who will stand up for the industry. I hope that Sharma can step up to the plate.
“Perhaps more concerning is the lack of a Cabinet position for the housing minister. Housing was a key concern during election campaigning, but now it looks set to take a back seat in policy making while Brexit dominates the agenda while the sector deals with yet another new housing minister.
“As CEO of the Guild, I am going to endeavour to raise the profile of the issues facing our industry during this government, no matter how long it lasts.”
North-east agent Ajay Jagota said: “I’ve joked in the past that housing minsters last about as long as Sunderland managers, but they don’t even last that long.
“With the average Sunderland manager sticking around 877 days on average, there’s more longevity taking charge at the Stadium of Light than being a housing minister.”
There have now been 37 post-war housing ministers. The longest serving, Reg Freeson, was in post for five years.
In recent times, Labour’s Yvette Cooper (30 months) and Tory Grant Shapps (27 months) have served the longest.
Caroline Flint and Margaret Beckett, Labour, both managed just eight months; Kris Hopkins, Tory, did nine months; Gavin Barwell did nine months, while a raft of housing ministers including Earl Caithness, Lord Falconer, Jeff Rooker and John Healey lasted a year, and Conservative Mark Prisk managed to hold on for 13 months.
Conspicuous by his absence yesterday at the tragic Grenfell Tower any thoughts that Alok Sharma had stepped into a safe seat on his way to better things soon disappeared
To their eternal shame the Ministry of Housing has been put well down the pecking order of importance by the Govt ranking below the N Ireland portfolio.
The public are going to have to be convinced that these brutalist 60/70s block are safe too live in .The fact that the fire took hold so quickly despite the fact that a well equipped fire service entered the building within 6 minutes indicates multiple failures
It’s only relatively recently that high rise became fashionable again When the words sub -penthouse started to appear in agents lexicon confirmed its arrival
Grenfell Tower has changed all that with its funeral pyre image and the fact that the fire fighters left the floors above 12 to 13 to burn
A tragedy waiting to happen .Things will never be the same again
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I know you meant no offence, but fire officers didn’t leave the floors above 12 to 13 to burn. Their water jets wouldn’t reach any higher but they went to the top on foot in terrifying conditions and brought people out alive.
Their bravery (not really a strong enough word but hero is so overworked it’s lost its value) is in marked contrast to the politicians who are happy to take their salary while cutting others’ funding and sacking firefighters plus other emergency staff. Perhaps sub-penthouse needs replacing with above-easy-rescue as the accurate description!
Sharma needs to shoulder his responsibilities and ensure that those to blame are brought to account. He also needs to undertake his role with gusto and make housing policy the focus of the politicos. Everyone needs somewhere decent to live or, if you are in the Westminster bubble, two places to cater for home and away comfort.
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PR Man
That’st what I meant they didnt have the equipment to reach the upper floors externally so they had little choice but to sit back and watch the fires burn out in the top floors The fact that they entered the building and rescued 60 is testament to their bravery Barwell his predecessor showed little appetite about addressing concerns
The fact remains
“Nobody has died in a fire in the UK at a property with ‘a properly installed sprinkler system working the way it’s meant to’, says Keith Brooks, head of prevention and protection at Cheshire Fire and Rescue ” after the 2009 Camberwell tragedy
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Re “Dismay at revolving door of housing ministers, where average tenure is just 14 months”
Maybe they can’t afford the re-let fees those London estate agents charge 🙂
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