Simon Clarke has announced his departure from his role as secretary of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. 

On Twitter, Clarke says: “It has been a great privilege to serve as secretary of state @luhc, working alongside some terrific people to #LevelUp our communities, just as it was before that as chief secretary @hmtreasury.”

“It has only been while holding these positions that I’ve come to appreciate the full weight of responsibility that ministers bear, and we are deeply fortunate to be supported in this by our civil servants and special advisers (and never forget them on days like today),” he adds.

Clarke was appointed by former prime minister Liz Truss in September. 

Most recently, Clarke served as chief secretary to the treasury. Before that he worked as minister of state at the ministry of housing, communities and local government, where he took on regional growth duties.

Clarke’s departure follows the arrival of the UK’s new prime minister Rishi Sunak. 

Earlier today, Sunak says he has been elected as leader of the Conservative party and the UK’s prime minister to fix some mistakes made by his predecessor Truss, who resigned last week after just 45 days in office.

Environment secretary Ranil Jayawardena, education secretary Kit Malthouse, pension secretary Chloe Smith, chief whip Wendy Morton, justice secretary Brandon Lewis and business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, among others, have also departed from their government positions.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Hunt is expected to remain as chancellor. 

Sunak is expected to start his cabinet reshuffle this afternoon, according to a Sky News article.