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Michael Gove has announced that he will not run for re-election to parliament in the upcoming general election. The decision means that 鈥� no matter the outcome after July 4 鈥� he will cease to be the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities. 

Gove has served in the role since October 2022, having previously held the position from September 2021 to July 2022. Before that, he worked in the Cabinet as environment secretary, justice secretary and education secretary as well as chief whip and chancellor to the Duchy of Lancaster. 

In a letter announcing his decision, Gove said that 鈥渁 new generation should lead鈥� the Conservative Party, and thanked Rishi Sunak and the three other Tory prime ministers under whom he has served since 2010. 

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He ran through his accomplishments in each office, saying that, during his time in DLUHC, he had built 鈥渁n unanswerable case for strengthening local communities and shifting power closer to the people鈥�, . 

鈥淚 was also pleased to be able to introduce the most wide-ranging reforms to leasehold, social housing and supported housing in a generation,鈥� he continued. 

鈥淲e have built a million new homes in this Parliament. But just as important as increasing the supply of new homes is work to make sure every existing home is safe, decent and warm.  

鈥淭hat is why we have introduced measures such as Awaab鈥檚 Law, to protect social housing tenants, and given tenants everywhere a stronger voice.鈥� 

Awaab鈥檚 Law, introduced in July 2023 as part of the Social Housing Regulation Act, through legal action if they do not meet certain standards. 

Gove also attempted to pass reform to leasehold and renters鈥� rights.  

While the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act, which makes it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to buy their freehold, was granted Royal Assent earlier this month, the is unlikely to be enacted before the general election. 

On housing delivery, Gove has received much criticism from the industry, for his perceived capitulation to Conservative backbenchers. 

While he promised to introduce 鈥渟harper accountability鈥� for local authorities in his latest he was also responsible for making housing targets officially 鈥渁dvisory鈥� rather than mandatory. 

Gove also highlighted his role in shepherding in a .

鈥淚n this role I have also been moved by the testimony of the bereaved, relatives and survivors of the Grenfell tragedy,鈥� he said.  

鈥淚 am glad we have been able to legislate and act to make buildings safer, to learn from the tragedy and secure funding for a permanent memorial to those we lost.鈥� 

While the new building safety regime has been broadly welcomed by the industry, Gove鈥檚 hardline approach and over cladding remediation has made him an unpopular figure at times.