Housing Secretary drops “levelling up gimmick”

The Government has dropped the previous Tory Party’s levelling up slogan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner confirmed the move yesterday, revealing a new name for her department.

She said: “A Government of public service means fixing the fundamentals to deliver for the British people. 

“No more gimmicks and slogans, but the hard yards of governing in the national interest. 

“The department I lead will be the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.”

It comes after Rayner met with England’s regional mayors yesterday to discuss local growth plans.

She called on mayors to identify local specialisms, and contribute to work on a national industrial strategy.

She said: “For too long a Westminster government has tightly gripped control and held back opportunities and potential for towns, cities and villages across the UK.

“That’s meant misguided decisions devastating the lives of working people, while our elected local leaders are forced to beg for scraps at the whim of Whitehall.

“It’s time to take back control, and this new government is focused on setting that potential free, with a full reset of our relationship with local government.

“All of this starts with proper, grown up conversations with our regional Mayors, to make changes that help them deliver local economic growth with better housing, education and jobs for local people.

“Work will now continue at pace to deliver on manifesto commitments to transfer power out of Whitehall, and into our communities, with upcoming devolution legislation to take back control.”