Clark out, Clarke in in Truss reshuffle
Greg Clark has been sacked as levelling up secretary in new prime minister Liz Truss’s reshuffle of the Cabinet.
Clark held the position for just eight weeks. Sources said he always knew the job would be that of a caretaker role, but following the announcement of his replacement by former chief secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke, he tweeted that he was proud of his achievements in that time.
“It’s been such a privilege to be at the helm at @luhc [the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities] these last 8 weeks,” said Clark. “Thanks to superb teams of ministers, civil servants, colleagues in local govt and partners in business & voluntary sector. We’ve done the job and delivered a lot more besides. I’ve enjoyed it enormously.”
Greg Clark has been sacked as levelling up secretary in new prime minister Liz Truss’s reshuffle of the Cabinet.
Clark held the position for just eight weeks. Sources said he always knew the job would be that of a caretaker role, but following the announcement of his replacement by former chief secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke, he tweeted that he was proud of his achievements in that time.
“It’s been such a privilege to be at the helm at @luhc [the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities] these last 8 weeks,” said Clark. “Thanks to superb teams of ministers, civil servants, colleagues in local govt and partners in business & voluntary sector. We’ve done the job and delivered a lot more besides. I’ve enjoyed it enormously.”
He added: “Levelling up is in able hands with my good friend and fellow Teessider @SimonClarkeMP. I wish him, and the government, great success.”
Clarke said it was a “huge honour” to be appointed secretary of state.
“Delivering on levelling up for communities in all parts of our country, unlocking the homes we need and supporting the economic growth that is so central to Liz Truss’s government is our mission. I will give it my all,” he tweeted.
“This is a department that I know really well, and which I am so looking forward to returning to – the commitment and expertise of officials there on themes as diverse as homelessness, building safety and devolution is second to none.”
Rumours had circulated that Jacob Rees-Mogg could be handed the levelling up mandate in Truss’s new government. He has instead been appointed business secretary.
Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, welcomed Clarke’s appointment.
“We congratulate Simon Clarke on his new role and look forward to working with him,” said Leech. “He will play a critical role in the prime minister’s plans to ‘deliver, deliver, deliver’, with levelling up, housing supply and carbon reduction all vital to the UK’s future prosperity and global competitiveness.”
She added: “We stand ready to work with the secretary of state to unlock billions of pounds of property investment that will transform places across the UK, and we urge him to take decisive action quickly – the clock is ticking.”
Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “We are hopeful that with new leadership at the helm this will be an opportunity for the department to focus on the decline of the nation’s small, local housebuilders.
“With the country desperately in need of housing, it should be SME developers that deliver the numbers. But they are hampered by planning laws that have pushed many from the market. An easier to navigate planning system will also make incoming environmental requirements more manageable for small builders.”
He added: “Meaningful delivery for the UK’s local housebuilders is a win-win. It creates local jobs and vocational skills routes in communities. It also helps boost local economies and delivers homes that reflect their community. All of which delivers growth in every part of the UK.”
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