Ministerial role

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Responsibilities

The minister is responsible for the overall leadership and strategic direction of the department.

Responsibilities include:

  • strategic oversight of the department’s business
  • Midlands Engine Champion
  • Chair Grenfell Ministerial Recovery Group

Current role holder

The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP

The Rt Hon Michael Gove was appointed Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 15 September 2021.

He was previously Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from July 2019 to September 2021. He was also Minister for the Cabinet Office from February 2020 to September 2021. He was Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from June 2017 to July 2019. He was elected Conservative MP for Surrey Heath in 2005.

Education

Michael was educated at Robert Gordon’s College, Aberdeen and Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University.

Political career

Michael was Shadow Minister for Housing from 2005 to 2007 and Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families from 2007 to 2010.

He served as Secretary of State for Education from May 2010 until July 2014. From July 2014 to May 2015, he served as Government Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury. Michael also served as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice from May 2015 until 14 July 2016.

Career outside politics

Michael became a journalist after leaving university, working as a reporter for The Press and Journal in Aberdeen, a researcher and reporter at Scottish Television and a reporter for BBC Television. He was later Assistant Editor of The Times.

Personal life

Michael is married with 2 children.

More about this person

Previous holders of this role

  1. The Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP

    2019 to 2021

  2. The Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP

    2018 to 2019

  3. The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP

    2018 to 2018