Matthew Pennycook has been appointed as a junior minister in the Department of Housing, Communities, and Local Government by Labour.
- Angela Rayner will lead Labour’s initiative to construct 1.5 million homes as the new Housing Secretary.
- Pennycook previously served as a shadow housing and planning minister in opposition, with expected continuation into his new role.
- Jim McMahon will serve alongside Pennycook, transitioning from his previous role focused on English devolution.
- Rayner succeeded Michael Gove, who implemented significant changes in housing policy before his departure.
Matthew Pennycook has been named a junior minister in the Department of Housing, Communities, and Local Government under Labour’s leadership. His appointment follows Angela Rayner’s confirmation as Housing Secretary, effective from 5 June, where she will advance Labour’s promise to deliver 1.5 million homes during the upcoming parliamentary term. Pennycook, who represented Greenwich and Woolwich, previously held the position of shadow housing and planning minister while the party was in opposition, indicating potential continuity in his policy focus as he transitions to his new ministerial responsibilities, though official confirmation of his exact duties is still pending.
Accompanying Pennycook in the government role is Jim McMahon, the MP for Oldham West and Royton, who previously served as shadow minister addressing English devolution and local government themes. Their combined expertise is set to reinforce Labour’s objectives within the housing sector, particularly as it aligns with Rayner’s broader vision of enhancing social and affordable housing. In May, Rayner declared ambitious plans to establish several new towns within the government’s first operational year, supported by a dedicated taskforce tasked with site identification.
Angela Rayner’s transition into the role of Housing Secretary includes a continuation from her former shadow cabinet position in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). Her tenure succeeds that of Michael Gove, who, over the course of nearly two years, facilitated policy changes aimed at granting local authorities greater discretion to curtail housing development on greenbelt land, ensured that developers addressed fire safety flaws, and mandated the inclusion of secondary staircases in structures taller than 18 metres, effective from 2026.
This reshuffle also sees Louise Haigh appointed to oversee the transport department, with Ed Miliband taking charge as energy secretary, Jonathan Reynolds as business secretary, and Douglas Alexander fulfilling a role in the Department for Business and Trade. Despite the extensive changes, the position related to the construction portfolio remains unallocated after Conservative MP Alan Mak’s departure.
The appointments underline Labour’s strategic commitment to housing development amidst a wider governmental reshuffle.
