The appointment of Sarah Jones as the new construction minister has been made public, drawing attention from across the sector.
- Sarah Jones, MP for Croydon West, has been appointed as minister of state in the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
- The Construction Leadership Council has been briefed about Jones’s new role in managing the construction portfolio, though the Department for Business and Trade has yet to confirm officially.
- Jones is the 26th person to be appointed to this position since the year 2000, indicating frequent changes in leadership within the construction ministry.
- Her previous roles as shadow housing minister and her advocacy for building safety reforms, particularly after the Grenfell Inquiry, highlight her experience and commitment to the sector.
Appointed as the minister of state for the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Sarah Jones has stepped into her new role with a wealth of experience in public service. Her parliamentary career commenced with a strong focus on housing safety, underscored by her initial parliamentary speech that advocated for the installation of sprinklers in tower blocks. This advocacy aligns with her subsequent efforts to amend legislation in line with the Grenfell Inquiry’s findings, a testament to her commitment to ensuring building safety.
Although the Department for Business and Trade is yet to officially confirm her appointment, the Construction Leadership Council has already been briefed, indicating her imminent involvement in steering the construction portfolio. Such high-level briefings often precede public announcements, reflecting the behind-the-scenes preparations customary in government roles.
Jones’s appointment marks her as the 26th individual to hold the construction brief in this century, exemplifying the rapid turnover witnessed in this position over the years. This frequent change can prompt challenges in policy continuity, affecting long-term strategic agendas within the ministry.
Beyond her legislative work, Jones’s previous roles include serving as shadow minister for industry and decarbonisation, as well as for police and the fire service. Her involvement in preparing for the 2012 Olympic Games as a senior civil servant further underscores her capability in managing large-scale projects, a skill highly relevant to her new ministerial responsibilities.
The governmental reorganisation also sees Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, tasked with a broader portfolio including housing, planning, and infrastructure. Meanwhile, Sarah Jones’s entry follows the brief tenures of former construction ministers such as Alan Mak, whose term lasted only a month due to a pre-election reshuffle, and Nusrat Ghani who was ousted unexpectedly.
Sarah Jones’s appointment as construction minister underscores a continuing shift in leadership within the UK’s construction sector.
