John Healey becomes the fourth MP in two years to hold the housing post.
The former Housing Minister Margret Beckett resigned her post after not being offered a full Cabinet post in the recent reshuffle.

Career History
2002-2007 Economic Secretary and then later as Financial Secretary
2001-2002 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Adults Skills
1997 elected Member of Parliament for Wentworth in South Yorkshire
1994-1997 Campaigns Director for the TUC
1990 to 1994 worked in communications for Issue Communications
1984-1990 worked with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation and MIND