Walsall MP Eddie Hughes gets new housing role and steps down from whg
An MP has vowed to champion the Black Country in Westminster after being handed a junior role in the housing department.
Eddie Hughes has joined the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS).
As a result of his new role, the Walsall North MP, who was first elected last year, announced he has stood down as chair of the 20,000-home landlord Walsall Housing Group (whg).
Mr Hughes said: “Twelve months on from the general election I’m excited to be taking on additional responsibilities in the House of Commons.
"This role will allow me to further champion Walsall North and the West Midlands with Government ministers.
“I’m passionate about housing and hope I can use my professional experience to support ministers effectively in their duties. It is a real honour to be asked and it shows Walsall North is back on the map in Westminster.
“As a result of taking on the new role I’m stepping down as chair of whg with immediate effect.
"I’ve spent many wonderful years working with this amazing housing association and with fantastic people. I look forward to continuing to work with them as a local MP and thank everyone at whg for their support over the years.”
Mr Hughes is a long-term member of the Chartered Institute of Building, and has spent most of his professional career working in construction and housing, having started as a civil engineer.
He has previously said he aspires to become a housing minister.
His new role is not paid and is not a role within the Government. Mr Hughes added that it would not require him to spend any additional time away from his constituency.
PPS roles involve acting as a link between ministers and backbenchers, and are often given to MPs considered to have ministerial potential.
Mr Hughes was a councillor in Walsall for 19 years but stepped down at the local elections in May to focus on his parliamentary work.
