Angela Rayner becomes Levelling Up Secretary

Angela Rayner has been appointed Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities following the Labour Party's general election win last night.

Rayner, who has been a member of Parliament since 2015 and Shadow Levelling Up Secretary since September 2023, will also be Deputy Prime Minister, according to a tweet from 10 Downing Street.

The Ashton-under-Lyne MP began her career in politics as a trade union representative for public services and local government union Unison.

She was convenor of Unison North West, before being selected as a Labour party candidate for her constituency in 2014.

She previously also worked as a care worker for Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council.

The incoming Labour minister replaces Michael Gove, who took on the position in October 2022.

Rayner is the first minister under Sir Kier Starmer's new Government to be appointed to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Ahead of the election result, Labour had selected Matthew Pennycook as Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning, Florence Eshalomi as Shadow Minister for Democracy, Justin Madders as Shadow Minister for Business, Employment Rights and Levelling Up (joint with Business and Trade), Mike Amesbury as Shadow Minister for Building Safety and Homelessness, Jim McMahon as Shadow Minister for English Devolution and Local Government, and Liz Twist as Shadow Minister for Local Services and Communities.

Adam Carey