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McVey focuses on homeownership after being confirmed as housing minister
Esther McVey has pledged to “make the dream of homeownership a reality” in her first appearance as housing minister.
The new minister of state for housing, communities and local government visited Daedalus Village in Gosport, Hampshire, where 200 homes are planned to be built.
In a short statement Ms McVey said the new government led by Boris Johnson would “give millions of young people the chance to own their own homes so we can make the dream of homeownership a reality”.
It is the latest sign that Mr Johnson’s entrance to Number 10 will precipitate a shift in housing policy back towards the homeownership focus of David Cameron’s time in charge.
Theresa May had moved housing policy to the left – with new funding for social rent, the scrapping of the borrowing cap for councils, and the abandonment of most of Mr Cameron’s key policies.
But the new prime minister is understood to be planning the launch of a new homeownership-related affordable housing product, which may come at the expense of funding committed for social rent.
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Ms McVey, the former work and pensions secretary, was announced as a new minister at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on Wednesday – although her title and responsibilities were not officially confirmed.
She has now been confirmed as the latest housing minister, making her the ninth housing minister since 2010 and the fourth since the 2017 election (see box).
New Housing Minister @EstherMcVey1 visited Hampshire today, seeing how Government housing accelerator @HomesEngland is helping to get 200 new homes built on formerly unused public land pic.twitter.com/19Z2DkjELE
— Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Govt (@mhclg)New Housing Minister @EstherMcVey1 visited Hampshire today, seeing how Government housing accelerator @HomesEngland is helping to get 200 new homes built on formerly unused public land pic.twitter.com/19Z2DkjELE
— Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Govt (@mhclg) July 26, 2019
She replaces Kit Malthouse, who held the role for a year and has now moved to the Home Office to take the role of policing minister in Mr Johnson’s first reshuffle.
In a short statement, Ms McVey said:“I am honoured to be appointed to this crucial role. As the prime minister has said, we must give millions of young people the chance to own their own homes so we can make the dream of homeownership a reality.
Listen to a podcast on Boris Johnson’s new direction for housing policy
“A key part of this will be transforming unused public land into the homes of the future and, crucially, into communities you or I would be proud to call home.
“The Daedalus development is regenerating the waterfront into a community to be proud of.”
The new housing secretary, and cabinet new comer Robert Jenrick, has previously written about his ambition to use public land for homes to be sold “at cost” to the under 40s.
Mr Jenrick also warned against becoming “pale shades of our opponents” after Ms May announced funding for social rent.
Timeline of housing ministers and secretaries of state since 2010
Grant Shapps was the first housing minister appointed after the coalition came to power in 2010
Housing ministers
- Grant Shapps: May 2010 to September 2012
- Mark Prisk: September 2012 to October 2013
- Kris Hopkins: October 2013 to July 2014
- Brandon Lewis: July 2014 to July 2016
- Gavin Barwell: July 2016 to June 2017
- Alok Sharma: June 2017 to January 2018
- Dominic Raab: January 2018 to July 2018
- Kit Malthouse: July 2018 to July 2019
- Esther McVey: July 2019 to present
Listen to a podcast ranking the housing ministers since 2010:
Eric Pickles was communities secretary for five years from 2010
Communities secretaries:
- Eric Pickles: May 2010 to May 2015
- Greg Clark: May 2015 to July 2016
- Sajid Javid: July 2016 to April 2018
- James Brokenshire: April 2018 to July 2019
- Robert Jenrick: July 2019 to present
