Brandon Lewis renamed housing minister

Confusion reigned yesterday when it was widely reported that Mark Francois was to be the new housing minister, but today it emerged that the DCLG’s announcement was in error.

Lewis has been housing minister since 15 July 2014.

Mark Francois has been confirmed as a minister of state at the DCLG, although his precise role is still to be confirmed.

A DCLG spokeswoman, said: "I can confirm that Brandon Lewis will remain housing minister."

Robert Sinclair, chief executive of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, said: "It's good to see continuity with the brief but this post should be escalated to a cabinet position given its critical role in the election."