The post of secretary of state for housing, communities and local government has, in the past, been pitched as a demotion or a starter job for those without political clout.

Not so now. New incumbent Michael Gove has taken on the role with a rebranded department and a beefed up portfolio that makes it clear that this is not a career dead end. The newly styled Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has become the department focused on ticking off the priorities needed for the government to win the next election.