With the previous edition of first quite rightly focusing on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, I would like to take this opportunity to belatedly congratulate Liz Truss on her appointment as Prime Minister.
As a former councillor, Liz has direct experience of our sector, and I look forward to the LGA working with her on the key issues facing councils.
Again belatedly, I would like to congratulate Simon Clarke on his appointment as our new Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
Simon is, of course, well known to many of us from his time as a minister at the then Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Along with LGA Conservative Group colleagues, I have already had a number of useful meetings with him.
“I look forward to working with our new ministers to secure the best possible outcomes for the people and communities we represent”
I was also pleased to congratulate Dehenna Davison, Lee Rowley, Andrew Stephenson and Baroness Scott on their appointments as Parliamentary Under Secretaries of State at DLUHC, and Paul Scully on his re-appointment as Minister of State.
Many of you will know Jane Scott from her time as Leader of Wiltshire Council, and it is great to see ‘one of our own’ achieve a ministerial position.
I would also like to take this opportunity to, again belatedly, thank Greg Clark for his support and engagement during his brief tenure at DLUHC. Greg has always been, and I know he will continue to be, a strong advocate for councillors, councils and the sector, and I wish him all the best for the future.
I would also like to thank Eddie Hughes and Marcus Jones for their support and assistance during their time at DLUHC, and I wish Lia Nici all the best following her appointment as an Assistant Government Whip.
Along with my LGA Conservative Group colleagues, I look forward to working with our new Prime Minister, our new DLUHC ministerial team, and ministers from other departments to secure the best possible outcomes for the people and communities we represent.