The new Prime Minister has appointed the politician tasked with 'levelling up' Greater Manchester with other areas of the UK and fulfilling a key Conservative election pledge. And there's one thing for sure - the eyes of a largely sceptical city region will be watching him with intent. His every word and action will be pored over and recorded.
Even more so with the news that PM Liz Truss has apparently dropped a key pledge to the region - to appoint a so called 'Minister for the North - less than 24 hours after taking up office in Downing Street.
It follows vows by both Ms Truss and Rishi Sunak to roll out more devolution and commit to a levelling-up formula for extra funding for areas here that need it.
Simon Clarke MP, who was born and brought up in the Labour heartland of Stockton-on-Tees, outside Middleborough in the north east, succeeds Michael Gove and Greg Clark as the Tory Government's Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
His background lies largely in the Treasury, working under Rishi Sunak as Chief Secretary to the Treasury for almost a year from 2021. Before that, he was Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury.
Mr Clarke also has experience in housing, having previously been appointed Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in 2020, before resigning citing personal reasons and 'balancing my own life against the demands of office'.
Billed by many as a politician who champions devolution, the 37-year-old's constituency of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland is itself no stranger to industrial loss and political commentators believe his background will benefit the brief. As a local government minister, he held a responsibility for devolution and he's said to be close to Ben Houchen, the Tory Mayor of Tees Valley, but there are also concerns of money-saving with his Treasury background.
Nicknamed 'Stilts' at school, according to reports, as he stands 6ft 7ins tall, Mr Clarke said he would give the role 'his all'. On Twitter, he wrote: It's a huge honour to be appointed Secretary of State at the department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
"Delivering on Levelling Up for communities in all parts of our country, unlocking the homes we need and supporting the economic growth that is so central to Liz Truss's Government is our mission - will give it my all.
"This is a Department that I know really well, and which I am so looking forward to returning to - the commitment and expertise of officials there on themes as diverse as homelessness, building safety and devolution is second to none."
Mr Clarke, a key Liz Truss ally who supported her premiership campaign and said she would cut taxes quickly, has deep roots on Teesside.
His grandfather, Patrick, was a neurosurgeon at Middlesbrough General Hospital and his father, Richard, worked at Jacksons Solicitors for many years.
His voting record has shown he's generally voted in favour of reducing central government funding for local councils and against reducing the rate of corporation tax. He's also backed high speed rail investment, but voted against extending same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland in 2019.
In the Commons, he's also voted against higher taxes on banks; for stronger enforcement of immigration rules and a stricter asylum system.
Mr Clarke, a lifelong Middlesbrough FC supporter, revealed last year that he lives with agoraphobia, saying it prevents him from being comfortable in some open spaces.
After leaving school, he won a scholarship to Oxford University, studying history, then qualified as a solicitor before working as a policy specialist on health and education.
He was first elected as MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland in June 2017, before being re-elected in December, 2019.
Pre-poll predictors Electoral Calculus, however, have predicted his seat is at risk from the Labour Party at the next General Election. He won 58.8 per cent of the vote when he was re-elected in 2019.
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