Construction minister vacancy appears as Jones exits

The industry is set to see its 27th new construction minister in the past 25 years as Sarah Jones has left to join the Home Office.

Jones was named as a minister of state at the Home Office on Saturday (6 September), following the wider government reshuffle in the wake of Angela Rayner’s resignation.

It means Jones spent just 14 months with the construction brief at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). She has also given up her role as minister of state at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

The MP for Croydon West was named as one of Construction News’ 10 people to watch in 2025.

Labour veteran Chris Bryant and a newer MP elected in 2023, Michael Shanks, now appear in the running to be the new construction minister.

Both have been appointed as a minister of state at the DBT – which is the same level of seniority as Jones – in the reshuffle.

Byrant, who has been an MP since 2001, was a minister at both the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. In other roles he has served as shadow culture secretary and shadow leader of the House of Commons.

Shanks, who has represented the Scottish constituency of Rutherglen since 2023, has been a junior minister DESNZ since Labour came to power last year. He is remaining in the DESNZ set-up, but has been promoted to a minister of state on top of his new role at the DBT.

As part of a major reshuffle at the DBT, Peter Kyle has been appointed to run the department as secretary of state. Kyle, who was formerly the science secretary, has also been tipped to replace Rayner as deputy Labour leader.

And Jason Stockwood, the co-owner of Grimsby Town FC, has been appointed as minister for investment. He will join the House of Lords in order to take the role, which will straddle the DBT and the Treasury.

MPs Blair McDougall and Kate Dearden have also joined the DBT in the more junior roles of under-secretary of state.

A DBT spokesperson declined to comment on which minister will be given the construction brief.

Elsewhere in Whitehall, Steve Reed was appointed housing secretary to replace Rayner after her resignation last Friday (5 Sept), while Matthew Pennycook has kept his role as housing minister.

CN previously highlighted the lack of attendance of a minister at Construction Leadership Council (CLC) meetings.

Jones attended at least three meetings of the CLC during her time as construction minister, according to minutes on the group’s website.