Last week’s reshuffle saw the appointment of the fourth communities secretary since 2015 and the ninth housing minister in eight years as Michael Burton reports

To say that the appointment of the relatively unkown new communities secretary last week was a surprise to the local government sector is an understatement. After much prior speculation about whether incumbent James Brokenshire, housing minister Kit Malthouse or even Michael Gove would get the job, it went to the little-known Robert Jenrick, MP for Newark and previously exchequer secretary at the Treasury, a former Remainer and early Boris Johnson supporter.

Mr Jenrick becomes the fourth secretary of state since 2015 while his housing minister is the ninth in eight years. Considering the current volatility of politics, many commentators wonder how long even this new team will be able to hang onto their posts.