For the first time in 14 years, Labour bottoms fill the seats around the cabinet table. The days after Keir Starmer’s historic election victory have seen his team for government emerge.  

Building spoke to the built environment’s top public affairs professionals in the run up to the election to field their predictions and expectations. Some have been realised as expected, but there have been plenty of surprises – new faces who the built environment will have to work to woo. 

Among the very first appointments announced were Rachel Reeves as chancellor, Angela Rayner as deputy prime minister and Pat McFadden as chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. Their prominence, particularly that of McFadden, in the order of appointments chimes with expectations that they, along will with Starmer, will take key strategic decisions as a “quad”.