Despite abolishing the title from her department Angela Rayner is still in charge of the ‘levelling up’ brief. Her department accordingly has expanding offices across the country in all major regions, including the largest in Darlington and Wolverhampton…
Ministers are usually expected to visit their satellite offices as a sound PR move and for morale. Rayner isn’t so keen – her department says in answer to a written question from Kevin Hollinrake that “the Deputy Prime Minister does not regularly work from the Wolverhampton office or Darlington Campus” because she has “led an ambitious legislative agenda in Parliament to boost renters’ rights, fix the planning system to support growth, and make work pay, alongside engagements across the UK on the Government’s plan for change.” Along with African vanity jollies…
Compare MHCLG’s response to Reeves’ from the Treasury, which boasts that the Chancellor and her ministers always up working at HMT’s Darlington campus: “Rachel Reeves has spent 3 days at the DEC, on 11th July 2024, 12th December 2024 and 13th March 2025. Exchequer Secretary James Murray MP has spent 4 days at the DEC, on 31st July 2024, 17th August 2024, 5th December 2024 and 13th February 2025. Financial Secretary Lord Spencer Livermore has spent 1 day at the DEC, on 22nd August 2024. Chief Secretary Darren Jones MP has spent 1 day at the DEC on 13th March 2025.” Our Ange not so keen on such provincial activities…
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”