The Catholic Union has called on Labour MP, Angela Rayner, to make faith a “priority” in her new role as Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Ms Rayner was given the communities brief, which includes faith engagement, as part of Sir Keir Starmer’s reshuffle of his Shadow Cabinet. She takes on the job of Shadowing Communities Secretary, Michael Gove MP.
In their letter to Ms Rayner, who is also Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, the Catholic Union called for Labour to have a Shadow Minister for Faith as part of the frontbench team.
They also highlight a number of policy areas in Ms Rayner’s new brief that are important to Catholics, including ending rough sleeping and supporting vulnerable households.
Elsewhere in the reshuffle, Catholic Union Vice President Mike Kane MP was reappointed as a Shadow Minister in Labour’s Transport team.
Catherine McKinnell MP, who recently spoke at a Catholic Union Pub Talk event, was promoted to Shadow Minister for Schools.
The Catholic Union will be increasing our engagement with both main parties ahead of the next General Election to ensure the views and interests of Catholics are properly understood.
Read our letter to Angela Rayner below.