James Brokenshire will replace Sajid Javid as the new Secretary of State for Housing, as Javid takes on the role of Home Secretary
Sajid Javid’s widely expected move was announced this morning (30 May).
Initial speculation for the role of Secretary of State for Housing had transport secretary Chris Grayling moving over. However, Brokenshire – a former immigration minister – came as a surprise.
Brokenshire moved up the ministerial ranks from a start as Under Secretary for Crime Reduction.
By 2011 he was transferred to the position of Parliamentary Under Secretary for Crime and Security.
In 2014 Brokenshire was Minister for Security and Immigration which lead him to Northern Ireland Secretary in 2016.
He withdrew from this role in January 2018 on health grounds having been diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer – which led to the removal of the upper lobe of his right lung.
On the announcement of his appointment, Brokenshire said he was “honoured” to have been asked to serve.
“(I am) looking forward to taking the Government’s agenda forward especially on building the homes our country needs.”
The odds on Javid succeeding Amber Rudd were slashed to evens overnight.
In moving Javid, the Prime Minister raises the stakes on her “personal pledge” to make housing the government’s number one domestic priority.
Javid was involved in delivering on 300,000 new homes in England by the mid-2020s target; he also led the government’s response to last year’s Grenfell Tower fire disaster.
