A leading lawyer appointed by Rachel Reeves to advise on Labour’s proposed planning law reforms is set to leave her post after four months.
Catherine Howard, who was appointed by the Chancellor in September, will leave the role when her term is up on January 1.
Her departure will go ahead despite informal requests to stay on in the job, The Guardian reports.
Ms Howard was appointed to advise Ms Reeves to help drive through the Government’s planning overhaul as part of its Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
The Bill aims to speed up the delivery of new homes and infrastructure under Labour’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes in Britain by 2029.
Ms Howard said: “Over the past four months I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as the Chancellor’s infrastructure and planning adviser and in my time have had the ability to advise HM Treasury and help steer the important steps the Government is taking to improve the planning system to support economic growth.
“I look forward to continuing my engagement with HM Treasury and government as I return to the private sector.”
It is understood she will return to her role as a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer law firm.
Rachel Reeves appointed Ms Howard to the role in September ahead of her autumn Budget
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A Treasury spokeswoman added: “Catherine was originally appointed until the Budget, but her post was extended to January to continue to support the development of our planning reforms, as per the terms agreed at the time of appointment.”
Ms Howard was initially appointed to work up to four days a week leading up to the autumn Budget before her term was extended.
The Chancellor meanwhile continues to face backlash over her financial statement on November 26, which saw her reveal £26billion tax increases despite earlier pledging not to raise taxes for working people.
Tax hike speculation and other pre-Budget worries have now been widely blamed for an unexpected contraction in the economy during October.
The Chancellor continues to face criticism over her Budget delivered on November 26
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Official figures showed the UK economy shrank for the second month running in October, contracting by 0.1 per cent following a 0.1 per cent decline in September.
Most economists had been expecting a rise of 0.1 per cent for October on hopes of a manufacturing bounce-back led by Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) recovery from a major cyber attack.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said gross domestic product (GDP) fell as car manufacturing activity only made a “slight” recovery from the woes at JLR, with the services sector weighed down as consumers held back spending on the high street before the Budget.
The data shows the UK economy has now not grown since June, with GDP either flat or falling in the past four months.
In the three months to October, the economy shrank by 0.1 per cent after growth of 0.1 per cent in the three months to September, according to the ONS.
Many businesses have recently indicated that activity in the economy slowed in the lead-up to the Budget as speculation over possible tax measures grew.
Ms Reeves last week hit out at “too many leaks” in the run-up to Budget when questioned by a committee of MPs.
Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said the latest GDP blow was “a direct result of Labour’s economic mismanagement”.