Angela Rayner wins a seat on national security council after PM U-turn

Angela Rayner has been handed a permanent seat on the national security council after a U-turn by Keir Starmer.

No10 confirmed today that the Deputy Prime Minister would join other senior ministers on the crucial committee, in 'recognition of the expectation that [she] will attend this committee regularly'.

Allies of the Deputy PM had voiced anxiety that she was being sidelined after she was only given a temporary post on the crucial committee in a break with regular practice. 

Other permanent members include Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden and Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Defence Secretary John Healey and Attorney General Richard Hermer were also named as members.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters: 'Ministers are and will be invited to relevant committees according to the agenda. The Deputy Prime Minister has attended previous national security council committee meetings and this simply formalises that position as a standing member in recognition of that expectation that she'll attend regularly.'

The spokesman said that 'ultimately it's a decision for the Prime Minister to appoint members of committees'.

Meanwhile, Ms Rayner's supporters have been claiming a win over funding for social housing, with the Chancellor expected to allocate nearly £1billion in the Budget next week.

In another apparent bid to play down the idea Ms Rayner has been shut out, they insisted the DPM - whose brief includes housing - was 'joined at the hip' with Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves.

The premier's new chief of staff Morgan McSweeney is said to have paid a key role in the move to bolster Ms Rayner's status. 

The NSC is seen as the most important of the various Whitehall committees and brings top ministers together with military and intelligence chiefs.

In documents published by the Government earlier this month, Sir Keir was confirmed as the chair of the NSC.

But the absence of Ms Rayner's name fueled claims she has been sidelined by No10 since Labour's general election victory.

Previous deputy PMs have been permanent members of the NSC since it was established by David Cameron in 2010.

Despite Ms Rayner championing workers' rights reforms in Opposition, that project has been handed to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds in government.   

Ms Rayner previously missed out on being handed the grace-and-favour mansion of Dorneywood.

The 21-room house in Buckinghamshire - used by John Prescott when he was deputy PM under the last Labour government - was instead given to Ms Reeves.

Ms Rayner is also reported to have been snubbed for grander ministerial rooms in the Cabinet Office that were enjoyed by her predecessors.

And Sir Keir has not established an Office for the Deputy Prime Minister, despite suggestions he might do so prior to Labour winning power.

Ms Rayner is planning to double council house building after winning a boost to fund tens of thousands of extra homes, according to The Times.

She has been arguing that council housing is vital to hitting Labour's target of building 1.5million homes, with more cash likely to be tagged in next Spring's spending review.

Ms Rayner believes the homes could limit a projected £9billion rise in the benefits bill and cut the cost of temporary homeless accommodation.

The Budget will also see the announcement of Rayner's restriction of right-to-buy rules, meaning existing council tenants will have to pay tens of thousands of pounds more to own their homes.

A senior government source said: 'Angela's ambitions on social and council housing have the full backing of the prime minister and chancellor, and that will become even clearer in the weeks ahead. 

'They are joined at the hip when it comes to getting Britain building.'