Angela Rayner is stepping back into the role of housing secretary in new prime minister Andy Burnham’s cabinet.
The former deputy prime minister previously held the housing brief in Keir Starmer’s government but resigned from the cabinet in September 2025 after acknowledging a stamp duty underpayment linked to the purchase of a flat in Hove.
However, in May this year she was cleared by HMRC of deliberate wrongdoing or carelessness over her tax affairs and agreed to repay around £4o,000 in underpaid stamp duty.
Now, she has been reinstalled as secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, replacing Steve Reed.
In addition, it was announced that Matthew Pennycook will remain as housing minister in the department, and will attend cabinet.
The reshuffle following Burnham’s appointment as prime minister also includes former defence secretary John Healey taking over from Rachel Reeves as chancellor of the exchequer.
Commenting on the new occupant of 11 Downing Street, Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, said: “Over the coming months, there will be sizeable challenges across the wider economy to overcome. Although the year started with quiet confidence in the housing market, there have been sizeable difficulties to contend with in terms of global unease.
“While we have seen inflation progressively start to approach its target and base rates hold steady, there is a much wider picture for John Healey to consider, as he takes on the role of chancellor of the exchequer.
“Housing remains fundamental to economic growth, with issues such as stamp duty for those buying a property in England or Northern Ireland, as well as taxation frameworks affecting many landlords in the private rented sector, all in need of review and potential restructuring.”
Comments (8)
A mad choice – the lady’s already a busted flush.
Raynor has already got her feet inder the desk. With Burnham declaring most of his time will be spent in Manchester, No 10 will be mostly empty throuhout the year. She’s now listed it as an AirBnB.
Angela Rayner making a comeback is fine and all, but I’m still waiting for Property Industry Eye to get back to its core reporting: a Hyundai i10 driving through an estate agent’s front window. The real news we’ve all been missing.
The ship sank on her watch last time. A leopard can’t change it’s spots – her latest ship won’t last long.
Asking Angela Rayner to be the housing secretary is a bit like asking Gary Glitter to mind your kids.
Her track record is deplorable, and she’s demonstrated time and time again that she has literally no understanding of the several housing markets that make up what she sees as being “the housing market”.
Amazing, so she either tried to commit fraud or if not, she doesn’t understand one of the biggest taxes in housing. Either way, she is not fit for purpose……. and who is paying for Number 10 of the North!!! The job is in London, its not a work from home job!!
No doubt our esteemed body PropertyMark supports this action- £20k for spouting whatever came into Red Angies head.
And now the Law of Reciprocity kicks in.