Which MPs will affect the housing sector in 2020?

First of all, let me start this article off by saying happy new year. We hope you had a wonderful time celebrating the festive period.

Now that Christmas has gone and the New Year is behind us, we look towards the future. With Boris firmly in the drivers seat, he has made it clear there is no time to waste. He is going to be working hard to get the UK out of the EU and therefore help the country focus on other issues, such as housing.

Reflecting on the Queen’s Speech in December, the Queen spoke about how housing should be near to the top on the priority list for this year.

There have already been debates in the House of Commons regarding the future of housing. But, who will be the MPs to watch when it comes to housing?

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Conservative MPs

According to Inside Housing, a lady to follow is MP Natalie Elphicke who gained a majority in of 12,278 in Dover in December. She is a an expert when it comes to finance policies and was a former columnist for Inside Housing. Before her MP career, she was a lawyer and worked on large complex housing financial deals. Back in 2015, she assisted the set up of a new housing ombudsman and co-wrote a housing report covering local authorities roles with the housing supply. She has more recently been chief executive of the Housing and Finance Institute.

In December, Paul Holmes gained the majority (15,607) in the area of Eastleigh. In his career, Holmes has previously been a senior parliamentary adviser to the Wimbledon MP, Stephen Hammond. Holmes made himself known for his work within public relations, however, he now heads the public affairs section of Clarion Housing Group.

Another lady to follow this year is Felicity Buchan. She won the majority in her area (Kensington) and took the seat away from Labour MP Emma Dent Coad. Her predecessor, Dent Coad, was very central when the debates started about gentrification and fire safety after the Grenfell Tower fire.

Labour MPs

On the other side of the table, sits James Murray, MP of Ealing North. He successfully made the move to Westminster in December by winning the majority in his area. His previous work has seen him work as London’s deputy mayor for housing under the watchful eye of Sadiq Khan. During the election campaign, Murray was Jeremy Corbyn’s housing adviser. He stated that his priorities were to control the rental market and the right of tenants. Although, he has been known for blocking certain developments in Islington in his former councillor role due to its lack of affordable housing.

Another MP to keep an eye on is majority winner of Nottingham East, Nadia Whittome. She is known as one of the youngest MPs as she sits in the commons at the ripe age of 23. The BBC interviewed Whittome in the middle of December and she stated that she took an interest in politics after she saw the effects from the bedroom tax.

Apsana Begum gained her seat for Poplar and Limehouse in 2019 after gaining a majority of 28,904. Begum has a background within the public sector and has worked closely with social housing. In 2014 and 2015, she worked as a project diversity officer for the Tower Hamlet Homes. Although, she saw herself on the wrong side of the election after being accused of ‘queue jumping’ the council housing waiting list within Tower Hamlets.