After some back-and-forth, Angela Rayner has officially secured a permanent spot on the national security council (NSC), thanks to a change of heart from Keir Starmer.

Initially, there were concerns among her supporters that she was being pushed aside when she was only offered a temporary position on this key committee.

However, recent reports confirm that she’s now a full member, meaning she’ll play a crucial role in discussions regarding the threats facing Britain.

Triumph in Social Housing Funding

In addition to her new role, Rayner’s advocates are celebrating a significant win regarding social housing funding.

The Chancellor is expected to announce nearly £1 billion in the upcoming Budget, which will greatly aid her plans.

Supporters are eager to dispel any rumors that Rayner is being excluded from critical decisions, emphasizing that she works closely with both Starmer and Rachel Reeves.

The recent appointment of Morgan McSweeney as the premier’s chief of staff has also been instrumental in elevating Rayner’s position.

The Importance of the NSC

The national security council is considered one of the most pivotal committees within Whitehall, uniting top ministers with military and intelligence leaders.

Recently published government documents revealed that Starmer serves as the chair of the NSC.

Alongside him, other permanent members include Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, among others.

However, Rayner’s absence from earlier membership lists led to speculation that she had been sidelined following Labour’s general election victory.

Historically, deputy prime ministers have held permanent seats on the NSC since its inception under David Cameron in 2010.

While Rayner has championed workers’ rights in her past role, the current government has assigned that responsibility to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.

Addressing the Rumors

Rayner has faced several setbacks, including missing out on the official residence at Dorneywood, a 21-room mansion in Buckinghamshire, which was previously occupied by John Prescott.

Instead, that honor went to Reeves.

Furthermore, reports suggest Rayner has not received the prestigious ministerial office space that her predecessors enjoyed.

To top it off, Starmer has yet to establish an Office for the Deputy Prime Minister, even though there were hints that he might consider it before Labour assumed power.

Plans for Expanding Council Housing

Looking ahead, Rayner is gearing up to significantly ramp up council house construction, especially now that she has secured additional funding for tens of thousands of new homes.

She argues that expanding council housing is essential to meeting Labour’s ambitious goal of building 1.5 million homes.

There’s potential for more funding to be included in next Spring’s spending review, which could alleviate the projected £9 billion increase in the benefits bill and reduce costs associated with temporary housing solutions.

The upcoming Budget will also introduce new restrictions on right-to-buy rules, which will require existing council tenants to pay substantially more if they wish to purchase their homes.

According to a senior government source, “Angela’s ambitions on social and council housing have the full backing of the Prime Minister and Chancellor, and that will become even clearer in the weeks ahead.

They are joined at the hip when it comes to getting Britain building.”

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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