Will Angela Rayner deliver for housing?

With Angela Rayner set to go toe to toe with Michael Gove on housing, we look at how she might deliver for the sector – both in opposition and in government.

Last week, Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer completed a long-anticipated reshuffle that saw deputy leader Angela Rayner gain the brief for Levelling Up and Housing, taking over from Lisa Nandy. 

The move means the sector now has two big hitters on either side of the aisle, with self-described “soft-left socialist” Rayner expected to serve as a more vocal opponent to Michael Gove than her predecessor, Lisa Nandy, who is now the shadow minister for International Development. 

Confirming the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), Rayner said: “I'm delighted to be taking on the role of Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities...I inherit an exceptional set of policies from @lisanandy who has led this Shadow Department with grit, imagination and determination, holding the Tories to account for the housing crisis.”

But how exactly will Rayner differ from her predecessor? 

Rayner’s housing history

While we don’t have too much to go on, perhaps the greatest insight into how Rayner might handle the brief came earlier this summer, when she filled in for Kier Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). The Labour deputy spent much of her head-to-head with Oliver Dowden - who was standing in for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – probing all areas of Conservative housing policy. 

Indicating Labour would try to do more to ensure more new homes are built each year, she asked: “When will he finally stand up for the national interests instead of their own interests and build more houses?” 

She also touched on rising mortgage rates, saying families are “sick with worry” about the cost of the “Tory mortgage bombshell”.

“Do they still claim to be the party of home-ownership?” she probed. 

On Buy to Let properties - and given that “most renters live in homes with Buy to Let mortgage[s]” - she asked if Dowden could comment on whether Buy to Let properties were to be included in the government’s mortgage support package. Such support has yet to be confirmed by the government. 

Questioning the government’s pledge to ban Section 21 evictions, Rayner asked: “Will [the Conservatives] finally deliver their promise to ban no-fault evictions?” 

She added: “We will ban no-fault evictions...unlike the party opposite.” 

When the government published its Renters’ Reform Bill in May, it confirmed it would be banning so-called no-fault evictions. However, the ban will likely not come into effect till 2024, as the bill is still early in its parliamentary journey, with no date set for a second reading. 

In a separate PMQs, in which Rayner once again faced off against Dowden, she highlighted the rising numbers of families and children living in temporary accommodation, which she blamed on the Conservative government. 

She defended Labour’s record on temporary accommodation, saying: “The last Labour government worked hard to dramatically reduce the number of children in temporary accommodation...I’m proud of our record on tackling child poverty.” 

Rayner touched on some of the same issues brought up during her PMQ performances during the Local Government Association’s July conference; an address that, in retrospect, served as a warm-up for the kinds of speeches she will no doubt be delivering in her new role as shadow housing secretary. 

She said a Labour government would tackle the housing crisis “head on”, partly by reforming planning laws “so you can build more homes, more affordable homes”, adding that her party would “bring back” national targets. 

Rayner also spoke of the “powerful idea” of the green belt, saying she “understand[s] what the green belt is, what it does, and why it’s needed in communities”. 

She added: “But I also see that, too often when it comes to planning, the rules don’t reflect the reality...that there is land designated as green belt that isn’t protecting our environmental heritage, isn’t protecting our countryside, isn’t really our green or pleasant land, land that is anything but genuinely green.” 

She spoke of the need to build more homes on areas such as “car parks, abandoned petrol stations, old rubbish tips”. 

Perhaps the biggest indication of Rayner’s views on housing is her background. Rayner was brought up in a council home and has often spoken of the role the tenure can play in supporting those who might otherwise struggle to keep a roof over their head. 

On a personal level, she has said council housing “gave me that security, security that broke down the barriers to opportunity”.

So, while Rayner has spoken of virtues of homeownership – indeed, she now has a mortgage herself - she also understands the benefits of providing housing and support to those who cannot afford to buy their own home. 

Rayner v Gove

As someone with high standing within the Labour Party, Rayner’s appointment as shadow housing secretary has generally been viewed as good for the sector. 

Her new post, however, will see her butt heads with Michael Gove, who has made headlines during his two stints in post for his willingness to call out underperforming landlords and for introducing new qualification requirements to the sector, which the CIH (and Labour) has backed. While it’s unclear how long Rayner will stay in post, she will surely want to leave her own mark on the sector, even if it is from the shadows. 

Serving alongside Rayner is Matthew Pennycook, who retains the role of shadow minister for Housing and Planning, and Mike Amesbury, who returns as shadow minister for Homelessness and Building Safety.

Main image: Shadow housing secretary Angela Rayner. Credit: Rupert Rivett/Shutterstock