New housing secretary appointed as Javid replaces Rudd in Home Office

Mr Brokenshire takes over as secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, with Mr Javid taking up the Home Secretary role following Ms Rudd’s resignation over her handling of the Windrush scandal.

Mr Brokenshire was secretary of state for for Northern Ireland from 2016, with a parliamentary career that has been largely Home Office-based, including minister of state, security and immigration, and parliamentary under-secretary. He is MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup. His political interests are listed as health, housing and regeneration and law and order.

The new secretary of state tweeted today: “Honoured to have been asked by the Prime Minister to serve as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government. Looking forward to taking the Government’s agenda forward especially on building the homes our country needs.”

Government said it had recognised the importance of housing by promoting it to the secretary of state title in January 2018. Mr Javid was communities and local government secretary from July 2016 to January 2018.

Terrie Alafat, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: “Sajid Javid has made an important contribution as Secretary of State. During his time in the role housing has become a top domestic priority for the government and we’ve seen an important shift in the narrative on housing - including a move to a more balanced view of the response we need to solve our housing crisis.

“We wish Mr Javid the best in his new role and we welcome James Brokenshire to the role of secretary of state for housing, communities and local government.

“We look forward to working with Mr Brokenshire at this crucial time, as we seek to tackle the acute housing challenges we face.”