Housing secretary Steve Reed has announced he is stepping down from the role, following the appointment of Andy Burnham earlier today (20 July).
Reed has been in the role since September 2025, following the resignation of his predecessor and former Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner.
He was appointed by former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has today officially resigned. He stepped down following mounting pressure from the party over a number of issues, with Reed publicly giving Starmer his full support in recent weeks.
In a letter posted on X addressed to Burnham, Reed said he was “disappointed to be leaving government”, adding: “I wish your new team every success.”
He said: “Starmer showed loyalty to me by appointing me to his cabinet. I make no apology for returning that loyalty. It’s what is expected of functioning teams and I hope those who did not show loyalty to Keir will now show it to you.
“I’m proud I acted with integrity at every step over the turbulent past few months.
“Labour governments do not come often, they face pressure and hostilities that their counterparts never do, but they are the single best vehicle we have for improving the lives of British working people.”
Prior to his role at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Reed served as secretary of state at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs since July 2024.
As housing secretary, Reed unveiled new town locations and saw the Renters’ Rights Act get over the line, and was active in intervening in a number of contentious and rejected planned developments across the country.
Reed added: “I strengthened planning reforms to speed up housebuilding across the country, with radical acceleration package for London where housebuilding had ground to a near-halt under the Conservatives. I’m proud we built more new council homes last year than in any other year for 40 years when records began.
“I opened the £39bn funding programme that will build even more, and I introduced historic reforms to strengthen protections for social tenants, leaseholders and renters.”
Burnham is expected to unveil his new cabinet in the coming days.
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