Maclean sacked as housing minister

Rachel Maclean has been sacked as housing minister as Rishi Sunak assembles his team for the general election. In a reshuffle dominated by the news that former PM David Cameron was returning to politics as foreign secretary, Maclean’s departure means yet another housing minister will be appointed before the next election. In a post on X confirming rumours of her departure, Maclean wrote: “I’ve been asked to step down from my role as Housing Minister. Disappointed and was looking forward to introducing the Renters Reform Bill to Committee tomorrow and later the Leasehold and Freehold Bill. It has been a privilege to hold the position and I wish my successor well.” She added: “I want to thank everyone in @luhc who it has been a huge pleasure to work with as well as all those who have given their time, commitment and energy to work with me and inform policy on this vital agenda. I will never lose my passion for housing and planning.” BPF chief executive Melanie Leech, who previously told EG’s Office Politics that she had a lot of respect for Maclean, said she was sorry to see her go. “The revolving door of housing ministers has turned once more. For a sector that thrives on certainty and wants to see a long-term plan for housing, such discontinuity in personnel is a significant concern and actively undermines investment and long-term commitment across the sector. “The government is facing numerous challenges in reviving stalling housing supply, plus delivering the critical infrastructure required for future economic growth and carbon reduction. To meet those challenges we require political stability and continuity in decision-making. Minister Maclean leaves with our thanks, as someone who was hardworking, engaged and who took a deep interest in the benefits of good housing.” Maclean was appointed to the role in February this year, replacing Lucy Fraser, having previously served as a justice minister. In a role known for its high turnover, Maclean lasted 279 days, or nine months and a week. Her replacement will be the 16th person to hold the post since the 2010 general election, and the ninth since the 2019 election. Marc Vlessing, chief executive of affordable housing developer Pocket Living, said: “At a time of market stagnation, with housing delivery numbers falling off a cliff and with SME housebuilders facing a very bleak future, we have the instability of yet another housing minister appointed to the brief. “What we really need is political stability and resolute focus on tackling the housing crisis and getting new homes built, not a presentational government reshuffle. “With only a year to go before the likely general election, there is hardly any time for a new minister to learn the brief, build the relationships and make a meaningful difference. This is yet another deeply unhelpful distraction from the delivery of urgent planning reform this country needs to build more homes.” Addleshaw Goodard partner Peter Hardy said: “We don’t know who the replacement will be yet, but I’m not sure it even really matters; the next incumbent will inevitably be gone too in a matter of months. Maclean has only been in post for nine months, but that’s still a fairly lengthy term by recent standards.” Maclean was the longest-serving since housing minister since Chris Pincher, who lasted just under a year until February 2022. Since then there have been five housing ministers, lasting an average of four months each. The record for the fasted in and out of the role is held by Lee Rowley, who lasted a mere month and a half. “Some of the early ones were around for about two years (Grant Shapps, Brandon Lewis) which is hardly long enough to get your head around this complex area of policy,” said Hardy. “The more recent ones have been completely ineffective. How can a new minister possibly be expected to promote something like the Renters’ Reform Bill after less than a day in the job?” Charlie Hart, head of development consultancy at Knight Frank, added: “It is, regrettably, déjà vu time once again. It is extremely challenging to develop coherent long-term strategy if leadership changes so regularly. “If there is any hope of making serious and sustained improvements to the housing and planning system, this role cannot be treated as a revolving door. We need to find a way to keep housing ministers in post for longer than a few months so that those tackling the big issues facing the real estate sector are in the role long enough to understand the challenges and enact long-term change.” To send feedback, e-mail piers.wehner@eg.co.uk or tweet @PiersWehner or @EGPropertyNews © David Woolfall Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)