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Robert Jenrick replaces James Brokenshire as housing secretary
Robert Jenrick has been named as the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government as part of cabinet reshuffle carried out by new prime minister Boris Johnson.
Mr Jenrick replaces James Brokenshire, who has left the ministry after more than a year in the role.
It is the first cabinet position held by 37-year-old Mr Jenrick, who takes up the housing brief after more than a year of working at the Treasury as exchequer secretary.
His appointment came as part of a major shake-up of the cabinet by Mr Johnson, who was officially installed as prime minister today. It came just hours after Mr Brokenshire revealed he would be stepping down from his role.
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Mr Jenrick began his career as an MP in 2014, following a by-election, when he won the seat for Newark.
In addition to his role at the Treasury, Mr Jenrick has also been the parliamentary private secretary for Michael Gove when he was justice secretary, as well as Amber Rudd during her time as home secretary.
Other appointments by Mr Johnson today include installing Dominic Raab, former housing minister, as the foreign secretary, and former housing secretary Sajid Javid as chancellor.
Mr Brokenshire was one of a number of ministers who stepped down ahead of the reshuffle, with Greg Clark, former communities secretary, resigning from his post as business secretary.
In a tweet sent this evening Mr Brokenshire said: “Thank you so much and it has been a huge privilege to work alongside such an outstanding team at @mhclg. We have achieved so many positive things in the last 15 months and I have every confidence that the fantastic team will serve the new Secretary of State in the same way.”
His Labour rival John Healey was also complimentary of Mr Brokenshire, calling him an “unfailingly decent and dedicated housing secretary”.
Mr Brokenshire has been an MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup since 2005, and was secretary of state for Northern Ireland for 18 months prior to his role as housing secretary.
