Angela Rayner has been restored to the role of Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, as Andy Burnham appoints his new Government.  Matthew Pennycook remains in place as Housing Minister, and will attend Cabinet.  Florence Eshalomi, previously Chair of the backbench Commons Select Committee for Housing, has been appointed as a second Minister of State, although her precise brief has not been announced.  She replaces Alison McGovernment, who was Local Government Minister but has now moved to  the Department of Health and Social Care.  Jim McMahon, who was the Minister responsible for devolution until Angela Rayner’s resignation last year, has returned in a more junior role.  The new Number 10 North office will be leading on devolution in future, with MHCLG taking a supporting role.

Seasoned observers will remember that John Healey, the new Chancellor, served as a Housing Minister in the closing years of Gordon Brown’s administration, and was Labour’s Housing spokesperson in opposition under both Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn.  This may bode well for the new Prime Minister’s promise to deliver a council housebuilding boom.