Kit Malthouse becomes eighth housing minister in eight years

Kit Malthouse is the new Housing Minister, replacing Dominic Raab.

Raab, who was in the role for just six months, was named Brexit Secretary yesterday following David Davis’ resignation.

Malthouse, MP for North West Hampshire, and a former Deputy London Mayor, is the eight housing minister I the last eight years and the 17th in the last 20. He was previously parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance at the Department for Work and Pensions.

There has been criticism of the government for changing housing ministers so often during the housing crisis.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “Another week, another Housing Minister. The industry has long bemoaned the turnstile approach to this crucial role but the pace of change is quickening. We’re now going through two housing ministers a year.

“Dominic Raab, Kit Malthouse’s predecessor, was only in post for a mere six months and before that, Alok Sharma was in the position for just seven months. The government claims that housing is a priority yet this constant chopping and changing in terms of the person leading the charge would suggest otherwise.

“Having said this, we congratulate Kit Malthouse, who we look forward to working with to tackle the various challenges. We are hopeful that he will be given longer to take housing policy forward than his predecessors.”