Newly appointed housing minister, Kris Hopkins, has hit back at criticism that he lacks the political clout to deliver the Coalition's housebuilding agenda.

Mr Hopkins, a former leader of Bradford MBC and Conservative MP for Keighley, West Yorkshire, replaced Mark Prisk in this week's reshuffle of mid-rank ministers.

However, unlike his predecessor, Mr Hopkins is not a minister of state, but a junior minister.

Mr Prisk told The MJ: ‘Kris is a very capable guy, although I was surprised that he had only been asked to take on the role of parliamentary under secretary.  But I'm sure he'll make the best of it.'