Title

GENERAL ELECTION

Rayner named levelling up secretary

Angela Rayner has been named secretary of state for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

© Number 10/Crown copyright

© Number 10/Crown copyright

Angela Rayner has been named secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities.

Hers was the first appointment to be confirmed by the new Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as he began forming his first cabinet following yesterday's landslide General Election victory.

Rayner, who will also hold the title of deputy prime minister, was widely expected to be appointed to the position in government having held the shadow role on the opposition benches.

She takes over from her Conservative counterpart Michael Gove, who decided not to stand for re-election.

Rachel Reeves has also been appointed as the country's first female chancellor and Yvette Cooper as home secretary.

Wes Streeting will take on the health and social care brief, and Bridget Phillipson has been named education secretary.

GENERAL ELECTION

Hampshire and Solent Combined Authority names interim chief

By Martin Ford | 29 April 2026

Ruth Adams has been appointed interim chief executive of the Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority.

GENERAL ELECTION

Southport Inquiry: a damning verdict

By Martin Ford | 23 April 2026

The inquiry into the devastating knife attack that claimed the lives of three young children in 2024 has delivered a damning verdict on the authorities invol...

GENERAL ELECTION

New edition

By Ann McGauran | 01 April 2026

As CLES hits 40, chief executive Sarah Longlands speaks to Ann McGauran about the organisation’s legacy and landmark achievements.

GENERAL ELECTION

New towns strategy faces critical test of local consent

By John Gregory | 01 April 2026

John Gregory examines how the Government's new towns programme prioritises speed over scale and why securing local buy-in will determine whether ambition tra...

Martin Ford

Popular articles by Martin Ford