Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, or informally Communities Secretary is a Cabinet position heading the UK's Department for Communities and Local Government.

This department was created in 2006 by then British Prime Minister Tony Blair to replace the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Secretary of State took over the responsibilities of the Minister of State for Communities and Local Government. This post, within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, was created in 2005, on the transfer of several of the functions of the then Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott.