Reed succeeds Rayner as housing secretary

Steve Reed has been appointed housing secretary following Angela Rayner’s resignation after it emerged she underpaid stamp duty on a flat.

Reed moves to the role from his previous position as secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs.

The appointment was made as part of a reshuffle by prime minister Sir Keir Starmer after Rayner resigned as housing secretary and deputy prime minister last Friday (5 September).

Reed was elected MP for Streatham and Croydon North in July 2024, having previously served as MP for Croydon North since 2012.

Previously, he led Lambeth Council from 2006 to 2012 and co-chaired the Vauxhall-Nine Elms-Battersea regeneration board, which was set up to oversee a 20,000-home redevelopment programme in south London.

Before entering Parliament, Reed held several roles in local government and the public sector.

He served as a councillor for Brixton Hill ward in Lambeth from 1998 to 2012, including time as deputy council leader and leader of the opposition. In 2006, he became council leader, chairing the borough’s strategic partnership with police, health and other agencies.

Reed also held senior roles at London Councils, the Local Government Association and the London Enterprise Partnership.

Before entering the public sector, Reed worked in educational and business publishing, holding senior commercial and editorial roles at companies including Thomson, Wolters Kluwer and The Law Society.

Source: LinkedIn/Gov.uk