25 July 2019updated 24 Jul 2021 3:25am

Cabinet audit: What does the appointment of Robert Jenrick as Housing Secretary mean for policy?

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 25: Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick leaves 10 Downing Street following the first cabinet meeting with new Prime minister Boris Johnson on July 25, 2019 in London, England. Britain's New Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, appointed his Cabinet yesterday evening with 17 of Theresa May's Ministers replaced. The number of Leave supporting Ministers doubled from six to 12 and 31 Ministers are now entitled to attend Cabinet. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

This is a big promotion for the young Remainer (the first cabinet minister ever to be born in the Eighties) who had been serving as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. Despite his stance on Brexit, Robert Jenrick – MP for Newark since 2014 – backed Boris Johnson early on in the leadership campaign and was an enthusiastic advocate for him on the airwaves.

With the housing crisis and crippling underfunding of local government after a decade of austerity, this is a tough brief. Much will depend on the amount Johnson’s cabinet will let him spend – and how genuine Johnson was about turning the taps on spending and borrowing for infrastructure projects during his leadership campaign. As a Treasury alumnus, Jenrick may have picked up some tips on how to persuade them to open the coffers; his instincts are to increase supply of houses.

Yet Jenrick will be particularly vulnerable to Labour attacks as the Housing Secretary with multiple expensive houses for himself; his £5m property portfolio made headlines in 2014.