Raab appointed Minister for Housing

Dominic Raab has been appointed housing minister, as part of Theresa May’s cabinet reshuffle.

Previously Justice Minister, Raab will work under Sajid Javid, in the new Ministry of Housing, Local Government and Communities.

He will be the 15th housing minister in 17 years, replacing Alok Sharma, who was in the role for just six months.

May has previously stated that fixing the broken housing crisis is her personal mission, and by adding ‘housing’ to the job title of communities secretary, there is a room at the cabinet table for this issue, for the first time.

However, industry members have criticised the continual changes in the role, stating that a long-term solution needs long-term planning and minister need have more experience within the role.

Commenting on the announcement of Dominic Raab as the new Housing Minister, Brian Berry Chief Executive of the FMB said: “Once again we have a new Housing Minister, which doesn’t really help build the continuity and greater certainty that the sector needs. However, Dominic Raab is an able and influential Conservative MP who we hope will bring a new energy and focus to the brief. We welcome him to the role and look forward to working with him. We hope that his focus will be on continuing to develop and implement a range of good sound policies which have already been set out by Government in the Housing White Paper and other statements. And we hope that he will be given longer to take housing policy forward than too many recent Housing Ministers!”

Raab was appointed to Justice Minister in June 201, and elected as the Conservative MP for Esher and Walton in May 2010. He has previously worked as a lawyer and at the Foreign and Commonwealth office.

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