Alok Sharma is the new Minister of State for Housing and Planning

Alok Sharma is the new Minister of State for Housing and Planning

8:57 AM, 14th June 2017, About 7 years ago 6

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Alok Sharma, MP for Reading West has replaced Gavin Barwell as the new Minister of State for Housing and Planning.

However, this role is not deemed important enough under Theresa May to be a Cabinet position.

Alok Sharma under the DCLG will now be responsible for:

  • Housing supply policy
  • Home ownership policy
  • Planning policy
  • Planning casework oversight
  • Homes and Communities Agency sponsorship
  • Estates regeneration
  • Thames Gateway
  • Building regulations
  • Private rented sector regulation
  • Neighbourhood Planning Bill

Mr Sharma Tweeted yesterday

Alok Sharma has previously served as a member of the Commons Treasury select committee, a member of the Commons Science and Technology select committee and a Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Treasury. From 2012-15 was the Conservative Party Vice Chairman and in 2016 Alok was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Infrastructure Envoy to India.

He is a Chartered accountant qualified with Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte, and then worked for 16 years within banking, first with the Japanese firm Nikko Securities and then Enskilda Securities.

Alok has not declared previous interest or experience in housing policy and has so far only fought against what he considers unsustainable development in his constituency. He is also going to have to work with the DUP who’s policy on housing says the case for investment in social housing is ”unarguable” and the DUP is committed to building 8,000 social and affordable homes by 2020.

Obviously this is in the context of Northern Ireland’s housing needs, but it will be difficult to have completely different policies elsewhere in the UK if the more progressive fiscal attitude of the DUP is accepted in whatever Supply and Confidence deal is done to get the Conservatives over the line.


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Comments

Gromit

9:22 AM, 14th June 2017, About 7 years ago

It beats me how housing is not deemed important enough to warrant a Cabinet place!!!

Cautious Landlord

9:30 AM, 14th June 2017, About 7 years ago

Beggars belief. Already evidence that Red Theresa and faux Tories have learnt nothing. Housing cost is right at the top of the snowflakes agenda with tuition fees - clearly not going to be a priority to fix supply properly. Expect more landlord bashing as it is our fault still.

Dr Rosalind Beck

9:37 AM, 14th June 2017, About 7 years ago

As a chartered accountant he will completely understand the absurdity of s24 (whilst being highly unlikely to admit this). I will be sending him the quotes from the ICAEW for his comment and urge others to do the same asap. It's worth swamping his inbox before everyone else wants a piece of him.

Ajay Pamneja

10:13 AM, 14th June 2017, About 7 years ago

Being an Indian (like me) and an accountant (unlike me), he is bound to have a few BTLs. I hope for those reasons, he has good understanding of the pain Clause 24 has caused to landlords across the land. It might be worth pursuing him with similar letters and emails and hound him for meetings to get our point across.

Lets get the ball rolling.

Gary Dully

14:45 PM, 14th June 2017, About 7 years ago

My previous encounter with 2 accountants was where I was told that BTL isn't a real business and is an investment vehicle.

So I don't hold accountants up as understanding our business.

Apparently, that also included the other 23 properties I own.

Mind you, they also said Beneficial Interest Trusts wouldn't work, so I must have spoken to two numpties.

So don't hold your breath or change your day job.

Mark Shine

17:40 PM, 14th June 2017, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Ajay Pamneja" at "14/06/2017 - 10:13":

Don’t think he is a landlord as no mention on most recent register of members financial interests.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/170502/sharma_alok.htm

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