Chris McDonald, MP for Stockton North, has been appointed as the new construction minister, becoming the 27th holder of the brief in the past 25 years. He officially took up the role on 11 September, following a government reshuffle that moved Sarah Jones to the Home Office.
McDonald’s position as Parliamentary Under‑Secretary spans both the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Within DBT, his responsibilities cover construction alongside infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, steel, materials, and critical minerals. At DESNZ, his remit includes industrial decarbonisation, green jobs and skills, and energy infrastructure investment.
A materials engineer by training, McDonald spent much of his career in the steel sector before leading the Materials Processing Institute through its divestment from Tata Steel. He entered Parliament as Labour MP for Stockton North in July 2024.
His appointment comes at a time of sharp pressures on the construction industry. Companies face growing demands to decarbonise material supply chains, tackle persistent skills shortages, and deliver projects against tighter net zero and infrastructure timetables. Industry groups have repeatedly called for stability in the ministerial brief, warning that continual churn undermines long‑term policy and project delivery.
The scale of McDonald’s combined DBT and DESNZ portfolio raises questions over how much focus the construction sector will receive. While his industrial background suggests familiarity with materials and energy transition issues, construction leaders are likely to press for stronger attention to regulatory reform, housing delivery, and skills funding.
Attention will now turn to the Autumn Statement in November, which is expected to set out the government’s next steps on infrastructure and construction policy. McDonald’s ability to translate his background into practical support for the sector will be closely tested in the coming months.
