BREAKING: Steve Reed replaces Rayner as housing secretary

Steve Reed has replaced Angela Rayner as housing secretary.

Reed, the MP for Streatham and Croydon North and former leader of Lambeth Council, was previously environment secretary – a post he held for 14 months.

Reed’s appointment comes following Angela Rayner’s resignation as deputy prime minister and housing secretary earlier today after she admitted not paying enough tax on her second home.

Rayner’s resignation means Sir Keir is now carrying out a major reshuffle of his cabinet.

Rayner quit on Friday after Sir Laurie Magnus, the prime minister’s standards adviser, found she had breached the ministerial code after she referred herself to him on Wednesday.

Responding to confirmation that Steve Reed has been appointed the new housing secretary, Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “We welcome Steve Reed’s appointment as housing secretary.

“At a time of substantial change for the rental market, we look forward to working constructively with him. Top of the agenda will need to be ensuring the smooth implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

“Alongside this there is a desperate need to support long term investment in new decent quality homes to rent and ensure the private rented sector operates on the basis of trust and confidence between landlords and tenants.”