The former housing minister has urged the government to keep a clear focus on levelling up and the country’s housing crisis as a new cabinet is formed.
Stuart Andrew was one of scores of ministers and cabinet members to resign in recent days in protest over Boris Johnson’s handling of numerous scandals. He spoke to the BBC shortly before Johnson announced his own resignation as Conservative Party leader.
Asked about his decision to resign, Andrew said: “One of the things I was wrestling with was that I would have to give up a job that frankly I loved doing, and I was very fortunate to work with some fantastic officials within the department, supported brilliantly by a private office, but also the wider sector. As I went around the country, what really struck me was that everybody was bought into that levelling up agenda and housing was a key element of that. I hope that we can get back to focusing on that now… and continuing that agenda.”
Andrew added: “We have a really important, positive agenda when it comes to housing – it’s about making sure the planning system is fit for purpose and communities identify where houses should be built so that you get that local support. But also that the condition of people’s housing is of good quality. Too many people are living in housing that isn’t up to scratch. That’s not on and that’s not fair – and we had a really important agenda to address that. I hope that the focus will return to that in the coming days.”
As well as a new housing minister, chaos in the cabinet means the government has also had to appoint a new head of levelling up in Greg Clark, following Johnson’s sacking of Michael Gove on 7 July.
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