Simon Clarke and Jacob Rees-Mogg both tipped as possible next housing secretaries

Levelling up and housing secretary Greg Clark is likely to be an early casualty of an expected cabinet reshuffle when the new prime minister takes power tomorrow, with both Simon Clarke and Jacob Rees-Mogg tipped this weekend as potential successors in the key role.

Conservative Party leadership front runner Liz Truss is widely expected to win her contest with rival Rishi Sunak today, paving the way for her to formally take over from Boris Johnson as UK prime minister in a ceremony at Balmoral tomorrow.

If Truss is installed as the new leader, the interim levelling up, housing and communities secretary Greg Clark, who was a surprise choice when named by Boris Johnson in July after the sacking of Michael Gove, is widely expected to return to the backbenches.

There has been speculation over the summer that the current Brexit opportunities minister, Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured, left), is being lined up for the role. Rees-Mogg has been a vociferous supporter of Truss’ campaign and is seen as on the right of the party, however, it is not clear how popular his appointment would be likely to be in the former “red wall” areas that are the targets of the levelling up agenda.

The Telegraph reported this weekend that “Mr Rees-Mogg’s role is still under discussion” and that he had been “linked with the roles of business secretary and levelling up secretary”.

However, the Times’ chief political reporter Tim Shipman tweeted that he understood that chief secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke was instead set to take on the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities brief. While the Telegraph said the Middlesbrough South and Cleveland East MP was being considered for the role of business secretary, the Sunday Times said he “is expected to join the cabinet’s main ranks, potentially as levelling up secretary.”

Truss is widely expected to reward supporters of her campaign with senior roles in government, with Kwasi Kwarteng tipped as the next chancellor and rightwinger Suella Braverman predicted by Shipman to be the next homes secretary.

Former levelling up secretary Michael Gove will return to the backbenches, along with Greg Clark, a fervent remain voter, who briefly had the Conservative whip removed in 2019 for voting against plans for a “no deal” Brexit.

One housebuilding industry source said of the prospect of Rees Mogg becoming the next levelling up secretary: “I just can’t see them making that appointment if they want to have any credibility to the levelling up agenda – it doesn’t make sense. Nothing we hear suggests that’s going to happen.”

Zack Simons, planning barrister at Landmark Chambers, said the appointment of Clarke, on the other hand, would be welcome for the sector. Clarke was one of a limited number of MPs to publicly back the 2020 planning reforms contained in the Planning for Future white paper. Simons said on Twitter: “Whisper it softly folks… he used to say sensible things about planning. Lets hope that good sense follows him into office.”