15 May 2015

Briefing: May 2015 reshuffle

An outline of the key appointments in Government and the Opposition

Contact name: Gabrielle Wain Lion Court Job title: Public Affairs Officer 25 Procter Street Direct line: 0207 067 1029 WC1V 6NY Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.housing.org.uk

1. Introduction

This briefing provides members with an analysis of the May 2015 reshuffle and outlines what is currently known about the contents of the Queen’s Speech which is due to take place on 27 May and will set out the new Government’s legislative programme.

The briefing also gives more detail on the Ministers appointed in the departments of note to housing associations, along with their counterparts in the Opposition.

2. Reshuffle analysis

In the week commencing 11 May 2015, announced the people making up the first Conservative Cabinet in 18 years, and set a clear mandate for decisions to be guided by social justice and compassion.

Overall, the Prime Minister’s first Cabinet aimed to reflect a “down to earth” Conservative agenda, which will offer people "the chance to get on, with the dignity of a job, the pride of a pay cheque, a home of their own and the security and peace of mind that comes from being able to support a family". We are, of course, pleased that David Cameron referenced housing in his first Cabinet address. This clearly follows on from the focus housing was afforded by all the political parties during the General Election campaign, which was not least thanks to the dedication housing associations and other organisations have shown to the Homes for Britain campaign.

Some media outlets speculate that the new Cabinet reflects David Cameron’s wish to position the Conservatives more strongly as the party of working people, with 43% of new ministers having attended comprehensive schools (compared to 21% in 2010). Others have also pointed out that promotions for ethnic minority MPs and Sajid Javid and a third of Cabinet appointments being awarded to women could reflect Cameron’s wish to be inclusive and moderate in political style.

With the voting public returning a majority Government, this week’s Cabinet reshuffle was perhaps easier that the Prime Minister might have originally thought. However, you may have noticed that there was one appointment whose announcement didn’t go quite as smoothly as planned – that of the Housing Minister. Having announced Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, as the Minister with responsibility for housing, Inside Housing later reported that this had been done ‘in error.’ MP was later confirmed as continuing in the role, which he has held since July last year. Mr Lewis has since spoken of his plan to focus on delivering homes and the Federation will continue our discussion with him on the role housing associations can play in his plans.

Aside from Mr Lewis, it’s all change in the Department of Communities and Local Government with Eric Pickles being replaced by . Mr Clark’s promotion is thought to suggest a move towards greater devolution. The new Secretary of State held a series of ministerial posts

Contact name: Gabrielle Wain Lion Court Job title: Public Affairs Officer 25 Procter Street Direct line: 0207 067 1029 London WC1V 6NY Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.housing.org.uk

under the coalition government, all of which were built around his knowledge of decentralisation and economic growth in cities. Mr Clark will be supported by Mark Francois at Minister of State, James Wharton as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (both of whose responsibilities are yet to be announced) and Marcus Jones as junior ministers with responsibility for the Northern Powerhouse.

In opposition, Labour also announced some changes to top posts, including a promotion for to Chancellor following ’ defeat at the election. MP makes a move from Shadow Secretary for Communities and Local Government to Shadow Foreign Secretary, allowing Emma Reynolds to be promoted to the role from her post as Shadow Housing Minister. Labour will now also embark of a Leadership election process, which will reach a conclusion in September. , , and have all announced they will stand for the Party’s top position.

You can read a list of the appointments already made to Government here and a full list of the shadow ministerial team here. The Federation’s Public Affairs Team has already begun engaging with the new Government with letters and briefings and they will keep you updated on our lobbying work as it progresses in these first months of the 2015-2020 parliament.

3. The Queen’s Speech

The new Cabinet’s legislative programme will be announced in full at the Queen’s Speech on 27 May. While we’ll have to wait until the speech to know its exact contents, it is rumoured that the following legislation could be put forward:

• A Cities Devolution Bill, to devolve housing, transport, planning and policing to English cities • A bill on youth employment • Bills to abolish the Human Rights Act

The Federation will provide a member briefing on the contents of the Queen’s Speech shortly after it is delivered on 27 May.

4. Communities and Local Government appointments

Government: • Greg Clark (Tunbridge Wells) is promoted to Secretary of State. This is not his first stint in the department, having served as a Minister of State from 2010-12 with responsibility for decentralisation. • Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth) continues as Housing Minister. A former lawyer, Lewis was leader of Brentwood Council from 2004-2009 having served as a councillor since 1998.

Contact name: Gabrielle Wain Lion Court Job title: Public Affairs Officer 25 Procter Street Direct line: 0207 067 1029 London WC1V 6NY Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.housing.org.uk

• Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford) joins Brandon Lewis as Minister of State, but his responsibilities have not yet been confirmed. He moves from his previous role as Minister of State at the Department of Defence. • Marcus Jones (Nuneaton) has been appointed junior minister, with responsibility for local government. He previously served as PPS to Sajid Javid. • James Wharton (Stockton South) will be the second junior minister in the department, with responsibility for the Northern Powerhouse – the Government’s plan to close the economic gap between the North and the South of the country. • Baroness Williams of Trafford has also been appointed junior minister, but her responsibilities are yet to be announced.

Opposition: • Emma Reynolds ( North East) has been promoted to Shadow Secretary of State for CLG, having previously served as Shadow Housing Minister. Reynolds is a former Labour Special Advisor. Labour have not announced a replacement for Ms Reynolds’ former role.

5. Work and Pensions appointments

Government: • Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green) continues in the role as Secretary of State and will continue to oversee the role out of Universal Credit. • Priti Patel (Witham) will take on the role of Employment Minister following Esther McVey’s defeat at the General Election. Ms Patel will be attending Cabinet, a reflection of the importance of the role to the Conservative agenda. • Lord Freud also stays in the department, but with a promotion to Minister of State level, continuing his responsibility for welfare reform. • Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) has been given the junior Ministerial role of Minister for Disabled People, with responsibility for child poverty, independent living and disability benefits. • Dr Ros Altman CBE (a member of the House of Lords) has been appointed as Minister of State for Pensions.

Opposition: • (Leeds West) continues in her role as Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. A former Bank of England economist, Reeves was previously Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Contact name: Gabrielle Wain Lion Court Job title: Public Affairs Officer 25 Procter Street Direct line: 0207 067 1029 London WC1V 6NY Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.housing.org.uk

6. Treasury appointments

Government: • (Tatton) will continue as Chancellor • Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) has been given the role of Chief Secretary to the Treasury, previously held by Danny Alexander. • Harriet Baldwin (West Worcestershire) becomes the City Minister • Damien Hinds (East Hampshire)is the new Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. • Jim O’Neill has been given a Peerage and a new role replacing Lord Deighton as Commercial Secretary to the Treasury. Previously Chair of the Cities Growth Commission in 2014, O’Neill’s responsibilities will include city devolution and infrastructure.

Opposition: • Chris Leslie (Nottingham East) is promoted to take on Ed Balls former role as Shadow Chancellor • (Birmingham Ladywood) has been appointed to his previous role of Shadow Chief Secretary.

7. Cabinet Office appointments

Government: • (West Dorset) is promoted to take overall control at the Cabinet Office in his role as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, having served as Minister for Government Policy under the previous administration. • Matthew Hancock (West Suffolk) takes on the Minister of State role, with responsibility for efficiency and civil service reform. • Rob Wilson (Reading East) continues in his role as Minister for Civil Society, with responsibility for social enterprise and social investment. • John Penrose (Weston-super-Mare) will be the Parliamentary Secretary in the department, having previously served as Government Whip. • Chris Grayling (Epsom and Ewell) also moves to this department as Lord President of the Council, having previously held the role of Pensions Minister. Opposition: • (Manchester Central) continues in her role as Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office.

Contact name: Gabrielle Wain Lion Court Job title: Public Affairs Officer 25 Procter Street Direct line: 0207 067 1029 London WC1V 6NY Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.housing.org.uk

8. Health appointments

Government: • Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey) and Jane Ellison (Battersea) continue in their roles as Secretary of State for Health and Public Health minister respectively. • Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire) is appointed to the role of Minister of State for Health, with his specific responsibilities yet to be confirmed. Having entered Parliament for the first time in 1983, he has served under Margaret Thatcher and , leaving Parliament in 1997 before a return in 2001. • Ben Gummer (Ipswich) is also appointed as a junior minister, whose responsibilities are also yet to be confirmed. • George Freeman (Mid-Norfolk) continues as junior minister for life sciences, a role that is shared with BIS. • David Prior (a member of the House of Lords) has appointed as a junior minister, whose responsibilities are yet to be confirmed. Before being made a peer in 2015, Prior was Chairman of the Care Quality Commission.

Opposition: • Andy Burnham (Leigh) and Liz Kendall (Leicester West) continue in their roles of Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, though both have announced their intentions to take part in Labour’s leadership contest.

9. Business, Innovation and Skills appointments

Government: • Sajid Javid (Bromsgrove) takes on the Secretary of State brief, having previously served as Culture Secretary. As the son of an immigrant family and a former comprehensive school pupil, Mr Javid is described as some as truly living Conservative values. • Nick Boles (Grantham and Stamford), with responsibility for skills • Francis Maude (former MP for Horsham, now a member of the House of Lords), with responsibility for trade and investment • (Broxtowe), who has responsibility for business and enterprise and will attend Cabinet. • Ed Vaizey (Wantage) continues in his junior ministerial role, with responsibility for culture, digital skills and as Co-Chair of the Smart Cities forum.

Opposition: • Chuka Umunna (Streatham) retains his role as Business Secretary, but he has announced his intention to run for the Labour party leadership.

Contact name: Gabrielle Wain Lion Court Job title: Public Affairs Officer 25 Procter Street Direct line: 0207 067 1029 London WC1V 6NY Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.housing.org.uk

10. Energy and Climate Change appointments

Government: • Amber Rudd (Hastings and Rye) is promoted to Secretary of State having previously served as Minister of State in the department and as a member of the Select Committee for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs prior to this. • Angela Leadsom (South Northamptonshire), who moves from the role of Economic Secretary to the Treasury. She has responsibility for the energy markets and renewable enrgy. • Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, who has been appointed as a junior Minister, with responsibility for heat (including the Renewable Heat Incentive), energy efficiency, fuel poverty and planning.

Opposition: • (Don Valley) continues as Shadow Secretary of Energy and Climate Change, but the Labour Party has not yet confirmed who will take up any supporting roles for the brief.

11. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs appointment

Government: • Elizabeth Truss (South West Norfolk) retains her role as Secretary of State. • George Eustice (Camborne and Redruth) as Minister of State. His responsibilities are yet to be confirmed. • Rory Stewart (Penrith and the Border) as junior Minister with his responsibilities yet to be confirmed. • Lord de Mauley also joins the department with responsibility for the natural environment and science.

Opposition: • (Garston and Halewood) retains her post as Shadow Secretary.

Contact name: Gabrielle Wain Lion Court Job title: Public Affairs Officer 25 Procter Street Direct line: 0207 067 1029 London WC1V 6NY Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.housing.org.uk