Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA
He has no background in housing
Sharma is a chartered accountant and had previously worked in corporate finance before going into politics. Since becoming a member of parliament he has been on the Treasury select committee and the science and technology select committee. He was previously the prime minister’s infrastructure envoy to India.
Honoured to be appointed Minister of State for Housing & Planning to work on building the homes #Britain needs @CommunitiesUK
— Alok Sharma (@AlokSharma_RDG) June 13, 2017
He won his seat by against odds, but with a reduced margin
After the shock poll predicting no overall majority for the Conservatives last week, both seats in Reading were predicted to be lost. Sharma held onto his seat in Reading West by just 2,876 votes - almost a third of his previous majority of 6,650
Sharma is from the local area and went to school in Reading
Sharma grew up in Reading and the surrounding areas. He attended the private Reading Blue Coat School, which charges fees of more than £15,000 a year.
On winning his seat again, Sharma wrote on his website, “Having grown up locally in Reading and being very much a local Reading man, I am delighted to have been re-elected for a constituency in my home town.”
He keeps the combined portfolio of housing and planning
These two portfolios have only been combined since 2014. Under the combined portfolio, Sharma is responsible for housing and home ownership policy, as well as the planning policy which underpins it. Other important parts of the portfolio including estates regeneration and regulation of the private rented sector.
He has consistently voted in favour of cuts to housing-related benefits
Sharma has voted consistently in favour of benefit cuts that affect housing. He has voted to reduce welfare spending 49 times, and has consistently voted in favour of the bedroom tax, which cut the amount of housing benefit people could receive if they had an unoccupied room in their property. He has also voted in favour of local councils removing council tax concessions for those in financial need
He could have trouble keeping the portfolio
There have been six different housing ministers since 2010. All of his predecessors have been men, of whom four, including Sharma, have been privately educated.
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