Both Andrew Stephenson and Paul Scully are moved to other posts in government with Lucy Frazer coming in.

Two DLUHC ministers have been moved to other positions in government as the endless changes in the ministerial line-up go on.

Andrew Stephenson, who shared responsibility for housing with Lee Rowley, is appointed as a government whip after just over a month at DLUHC.

His colleague Paul Scully has moved to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is unclear who will replace Stephenson and Scully.

New levelling up minister Lucy Frazer (pictured) could be excused for feeling a bit disoriented as she takes on her third government role in less than two months.

It also seems the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities is a bit dazed by the turn of events as well, simply saying her duties will be confirmed “in due course”.

Lucy Frazer with Rishi Sunak

Frazer is seen as an ally of new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who she describes as a friend after they worked together at the Treasury in 2021 and early this year when Sunak was Chancellor.

She was financial secretary to the treasury before becoming a transport minister in September.

Lee Rowley has main responsibility for housing in DLUHC, and it is unclear whether Frazer will share this with him as Stephenson did, although things change quickly in government these days. There is nothing in her parliamentary voting record that would suggest she has a special interest in housing or property.

DEFENDED PM

The MP for South East Cambridgeshire since 2015, which includes Ely, defended the PM on last week’s Question Time, saying he will bring stability to the government and the economy.

“He has already stabilised the markets…and wants to get the economy back on track,” she said.

Sunak wanted to ‘level up’ all parts of the country, including rural areas because there is deprivation there as well as in cities.

He should be judged on what he does to help the country and not on how wealthy he is, she added.

Via @TheNegotiator