Government Department to Discard Political Slogan
In a significant move, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has been renamed to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by the newly elected Labour government following the 2024 General Election. This change marks a return to the department's original name and a shift in focus away from the "Levelling Up" branding introduced in 2021.
The announcement was made by Secretary of State Angela Rayner, who took office after the election. The change likely reflects a new policy focus and branding priorities under Rayner's leadership. The Levelling Up agenda, an initiative of the previous Conservative government aimed at addressing regional inequalities, will no longer be a central part of the MHCLG's mandate.
In a tweet, Rayner emphasized a commitment to public service and delivering for the British people, without explicitly mentioning the name change's intention to empower and encourage local authorities or distance the department from the previous government. The re-inclusion of "local government" in the department's new name is, however, a clear indication of the importance placed on empowering and encouraging local authorities.
The MHCLG, which was first established in the early 2000s, has undergone several name changes since its inception. The latest change back to its original name signifies a return to its core responsibilities over housing, communities, and local government.
The Labour party, under the leadership of Keir Starmer, has plans to prioritize devolution, as evidenced by the Prime Minister's recent meetings with metro mayors and the proposed bill on devolution. This bill highlights the crucial role that local government will play in planning and delivering 1.5 million new homes over the next five years. However, Rayner's tweet did not mention this role of local government in the proposed bill.
The renaming of the department aligns with a common government practice of renaming departments to reflect new political priorities after a change in administration. The MHCLG name corresponds with the traditional remit over housing, local government, and community issues as it existed before 2021.
In her tweet, Rayner also made a commitment to fixing the fundamentals and avoiding gimmicks and slogans, indicating a more pragmatic approach to governance under the new Labour government. Despite this, the tweet did not explicitly mention the name change's aim to shed the political slogan "levelling up," associated with Boris Johnson's previous election campaign.
The latest deputy prime minister will lead the MHCLG, marking a new era for the department and its focus on housing, communities, and local government.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) under the leadership of Secretary of State Angela Rayner has moved to prioritize devolution and empower local authorities, as evidenced by the Labour government's plans to deliver 1.5 million new homes over the next five years, and the re-inclusion of "local government" in the department's new name. The renaming aligns with a common government practice of reflecting new political priorities, shedding the "Levelling Up" branding and focusing on housing, communities, and local government. However, the tweet did not explicitly mention a intention to distance the department from the previous government's slogan. The latest deputy prime minister will lead the MHCLG, signifying a new era for the department's policy and legislation focused on inclusion and regeneration in housing and local communities.
