Our parliamentary supporters are at the heart of our work. With experience across housing, regeneration, local government, and economic growth, they ensure our discussions are rooted in political reality and aligned with policy priorities. Their insight and backing help shape our discussions and ensure that these key issues remain a priority in policymaking.
Danny Beales MP (Co-Chair)
Danny is the first Labour MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip. He served in local Government for ten years including as the Cabinet Member for New Homes, Jobs and Community investment. Danny was responsible for the Community Investment Programme – Camden’s estate regeneration and property development programme – which delivered homes, schools and community facilities. In this role, Danny delivered over 1500 new homes, including over 600 council homes.
Lord Banner KC (Co-Chair)
Charlie Banner KC is a specialist planning barrister at Keating Chambers and a working peer. He has acted in over 250 planning inquiries and examinations, as well as 200 reported court cases including 18 Supreme Court appeals. He has been ranked by all the legal directories as one of the country’s leading planning silks for many years.
In February 2024, he was appointed by the Prime Minister to undertake a review of legal challenges to nationally significant infrastructure projects, which reported in May 2024.
Much of his work involves promoting housing developments of all types through the planning process, including urban extensions, tall buildings, new settlements, urban regeneration projects, and specialist schemes including later living, PBSA, BTR and co-living. He is the creator and co-presenter of the high-profile planning podcast, ‘Have We Got Planning News For You’.
His work to date in the House of Lords has focused on streamlining the planning process.
Lauren Edwards MP (Co-Chair, Growth)
Lauren Edwards was elected as the Labour MP for Rochester and Strood in July 2024. Prior to this she was the Medway Council Cabinet Member for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward advice and sat on regional bodies such as the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership, and the Kent and Medway Business Fund board.
Prior to being elected, she worked as a Manager in financial regulation at the Bank of England, with a spell seconded to HM Treasury. She also worked for the Communication Workers Union and for several Labour MPs in Westminster. She is Vice Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee, the co-Chair of the Skills, Employment and Careers APPG, and she has a special interest in financial services and skills.
Patrick Hurley MP
Patrick Hurley MP is the Labour Member of Parliament for Southport. Prior to being elected in July 2024, he had a long career in the social enterprise sector in the Liverpool City Region, co-founding Ethos Magazine and the Liverpool SOUP fundraising programme. More recently, he was the North of England manager for the Royal Society of Arts. In addition, he served twelve years on Liverpool City Council, including six as the chair of the Employment Select Committee, overseeing decisions around economic development, skills training and job growth. He chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for the social economy, is a strong support of the live arts performance scene, and is the co-author of the 50 Ideas For The North book series. He has a special interest in the politics of place and regional development.
