He secured two big wins for local government during his time as our Secretary of State – on both social care and housing.
It is hard to appoint more women to Cabinet when there are few senior women to promote. We count only four at Minister of State level.
Small firms have had to struggle due to bureaucratic inertia by some councils. At least the culprits have been identified.
With 6,000 properties lying empty, the Secretary of State has intervened over the failure to produce a local plan.
Francis Maude was responsible for a huge achievement in slimming down the numbers in Whitehall. His legacy is under threat.
Too many Conservative councils are being passive on this key challenge – while sitting on vast supplies of surplus land.
The expert team will be providing specialist help – they will not be commissioners taking over the Council.
The full text of the Communities and Local Government Secretary’s speech to the LGA today.
When I worked in Number Ten, the people who grasped most clearly this ideology’s threat were my Muslim co-workers.
The lack of a stake in the system is pushing the political profile of the youngest tranche of workers towards that of students.
We must preserve our beautiful countryside – but we must also continue to find places to build homes where people can live. There has to be a balance.
Nimby opposition can vanish if new homes are traditional.
It would be a betrayal of every value we hold dear if we deny the next generation the chance to own their own homes.
My continuation as a councillor would be likely to serve as a distraction as the council deals with major, pressing issues.