Gove made Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Michael Gove has been appointed Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, returning to the role after being dismissed by Boris Johnson in July of this year.

The appointment makes Gove the ninth Secretary of State appointed to the department in 10 years.

He was Secretary of State previously from September 2021 to July 2022 and oversaw the publication of the 'Levelling Up White Paper', which promised that by 2030 every part of England that wishes to have a 'London-style' devolution deal will have one.

At the time, the Government said that the White Paper detailed "the largest devolution of power from Whitehall to local leaders across England in modern times”.

Gove replaces Simon Clarke, who left the department yesterday after just 49 days in office. Announcing his departure on Twitter Clarke said: "It has been a great privilege to serve as Secretary of State @luhc, working alongside some terrific people to #LevelUp our communities."

Gove has also been appointed as Minister for Intergovernmental Relations.

The appointment is one of a slew of ministerial selections made by the incoming prime minister, Rishi Sunak, yesterday evening (25 October).

Among the appointments, Dominic Raab has also made a return to cabinet, having been appointed as Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor.

The appointment marks Raab's return to the Ministry of Justice after being ousted by Liz Truss early last month.

Truss paused the passage of Raab's controversial Bill of Rights Bill, which aimed to overhaul the Human Rights Act 1998.

Adam Carey