Powell loses her shadow housing role in Labour front-bench reshuffle

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Labour leader Kier Starmer’s reshuffle has included moving housing spokesperson Lucy Powell to cover the shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport brief, it has been reported.

The reshuffle, which had been expected today, came while the party’s deputy leader Angela Rayner was giving a key speech on parliamentary sleaze, apparently catching her by surprise.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow home secretary, Kate Green, the shadow education secretary and Jo Stevens, the shadow culture secretary, were all removed from their roles.

The reshuffle has been reported as Starmer’s attempt to both keep Rayner at arm’s length and reduce the number of left-wingers within the shadow cabinet.

Powell, the MP for Manchester Central since 2012, was appointed to the shadow Housing role in May, taking over from Thangam Debbonaire, who became shadow leader of the House of Commons.

But Powell’s tenure heading up the housing brief has been both brief and relatively unremarkable.

Landlords attacked

Her high point was a keynote speech in September during Labour’s conference in Brighton, during which, as LandordZONE reported, she attacked landlords and holiday home owners.

“I see no contradiction in us also promoting home-ownership – not for more landlords or second homes, but for ordinary working people – nurses, electricians, delivery drivers and care workers – currently priced out,” she said.

She also said a Labour government would link housing costs to wages and “tackle the thorny issues of quality, affordability and security in private rentals”.

A replacement for Powell, who is seen as a more moderate member of the Labour front-bench team, has yet to be announced.

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