The former justice minister is to take up new post with immediate effect, replacing Alok Sharma, who has been moved to employment.

Following the announcement, Raab said on twitter: “I have thoroughly enjoyed working at MoJ on court reform, my thanks to the team there … and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the housing brief, vital to building the new homes we need.”

The MP for Esher and Walton is the 15^th housing minister in 17 years.

He started his career as a business lawyer working on project finance, international litigation and competition law.

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It was yesterday confirmed that housing would be added to Savid Javid’s title, with the cabinet minister now secretary of state for housing, communities and local government.

The Prime Minister has pledged to fix “Britain’s broken housing market” and said her personal mission is to deliver more new homes faster.

Housing also formed a key part of chancellor Philip Hammond’s Autumn Budget at the end of the last year.