Simon Clarke has been confirmed as the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, as prime minister Liz Truss appointed her first cabinet.
Clarke, the former chief secretary to the treasury, had been widely predicted to take on the role. He succeeds Greg Clark, who had indicated that he would only be in post for a short period following the sacking of Michael Gove.
Commenting on his appointment on Twitter, Clarke said: “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 – will give it my all.”
Clarke was previously a minister in the department when it was the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
He added: “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.”
Suggestions that the term “levelling up” might be dropped from the department’s name have proved unfounded so far. However, there appears to be less enthusiasm for the phrase, with Truss not mentioning it in her speech outside No 10 yesterday.
Iain Duncan Smith, a prominent supporter of Truss, was questioned on Channel 4 News about the omission of the phrase from the PM’s speech. He said: “I have never been in favour of the phrase … I am not sure what it ever told anybody.”
Ministerial appointments for the department will be announced later today (7 September).
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