Housing committee chair Eshalomi made junior minister at MHCLG

The chair of the House of Commons’ select committee for housing, communities and local government has stepped down after being made a junior minister in the government.

After formally becoming prime minister last Monday, Andy Burnham began a cabinet reshuffle which included the return of Angela Rayner to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), replacing Keir Starmer loyalist Steve Reed.

Burnham quickly confirmed that Matthew Pennycook would retain his role as housing minister under Rayner, and would attend cabinet. The rest of the week saw the gradual release of junior appointments, including that of Florence Eshalomi, MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, as a minister of state.

Eshalomi has served as the chair of the Commons housing committee since September 2024, using the position to demand reforms to stamp duty, regulation of property management agents, and the quicker roll-out of Awaab’s Law to the private sector. As a result of taking a ministerial post, she will have to leave her committee role.

Meanwhile, Jim McMahon was made parliamentary under-secretary of state for devolution, local growth and communities in MHCLG, similar to a role he had held in the department until last September.

Sally Jameson, MP for Doncaster Central, has also joined the department as a parliamentary under-secretary of state, her first role in government.

Eshalomi and Jameson’s briefs within MHCLG are yet to be announced, although there appears to be a vacancy in the building safety minister role, following the departure from government of Samantha Dixon, who previously held that responsibility in the ministry.

Elsewhere, Emma Reynolds took over from James Murray as chief secretary to the Treasury, a role which typically includes responsibility for day-to-day oversight of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), which is a joint unit of the Treasury and Cabinet Office.

Currently, the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, is consulted on major ministerial decisions relating to NISTA. That role is filled by Louise Haigh as of last week.

However, departmental structures including the Cabinet Office are undergoing changes following the change of administration, with Burnham moving to create an empowered Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. 

The final ministerial responsibility for NISTA will be confirmed once this process is complete.

Chris McDonald remains a minister of state in an expanded business department, where his role has to date included the construction portfolio. However, he has also been named as a minister of state in the Department for Health and Social Care.