Shelter Scotland has described the merging of the social justice and housing briefs in the Scottish Cabinet as “deflating”. The charity’s assistant director, Gordon Llewellyn-MacRae, expressed concern that without a dedicated seat at the table, housing organisations will need to keep speaking out to ensure action.
First Minister John Swinney appointed Shirley-Anne Somerville as Social Justice and Housing Secretary on Wednesday, combining the roles previously held separately by Mairi McAllan (housing) and Ms Somerville (social justice). Llewellyn-MacRae said it was “incredibly deflating to see housing downgraded from a specific Cabinet post to a shared portfolio and the standalone housing minister effectively downgraded to a junior role”.
However, poverty charity Crisis Scotland welcomed the appointment. Head of policy Maeve McGoldrick said the merged position creates “opportunity to take a more joined-up strategic approach” to poverty and homelessness. She added: “If Scotland is serious about ending poverty, it must also be serious about ending homelessness.”
Ms Somerville said she was “delighted” to take on the role, bringing together the ambitious agenda on poverty and housing. She pledged to ensure access to affordable, high-quality housing for all, and to deliver commitments such as a new housing agency and a £10,000 scheme for first-time buyers.
