The new Levelling Up secretary Greater Manchester will be watching with interest and his voting record
The new Prime Minister has appointed the politician tasked with 'levelling up' Greater Manchester with other areas of the UK and fulfilling a key Conservative election pledge. And there's one thing for sure - the eyes of a largely sceptical city region will be watching him with intent. His every word and action will be pored over and recorded.
Simon Clarke MP, who was born and brought up in the Labour heartland of Stockton-on-Tees, outside Middleborough in the north east, succeeds Michael Gove and Greg Clark as the Tory Government's Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Billed by many as a politician who champions devolution, the 37-year-old's constituency of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland is itself no stranger to industrial loss and political commentators believe his background will benefit the brief. As a local government minister, he held a responsibility for devolution and he's said to be close to Ben Houchen, the Tory Mayor of Tees Valley, but there are also concerns of money-saving with his Treasury background.
"This is a Department that I know really well, and which I am so looking forward to returning to - the commitment and expertise of officials there on themes as diverse as homelessness, building safety and devolution is second to none." His voting record has shown he's generally voted in favour of reducing central government funding for local councils and against reducing the rate of corporation tax. He's also backed high speed rail investment, but voted against extending same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland in 2019.
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