Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has said voters will begin to see a difference in Britain's high streets before the next general election, as Labour makes the revival of struggling town centres a priority. In an interview for the Guardian's series on the fortunes of Britain's towns, she said turning around places blighted by boarded-up shops and rogue businesses was now a top government priority.

"There's been a real sense of decline," she said. "People see it as part of the identity of their town and area, and that's why we've got our high streets strategy." Her comments followed Chancellor John Healey's debut Budget on Wednesday, which earmarked more than £1 billion to support retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.

What the Budget promises for town centres

Healey said he would cut business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure firms in a plan worth £1 billion over two years, partly funded by higher taxes on gambling and vape shops. Labour also launched a revamped "hope on the high street" strategy alongside the Budget, designed to coordinate investment and hand more power to local leaders.

That strategy includes the previously announced £5.8 billion "pride in place" programme for regeneration projects and a £210 million fund to transform derelict buildings. Rayner said large amounts of money were going into high streets, alongside work on public spaces, services and housing.

Warnings the measures may not go far enough

The pledge comes with a challenge. On Thursday, the Resolution Foundation and the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned that the Chancellor's measures were poorly targeted and could pave the way for a difficult spending review next year. Rayner, however, insisted the Budget was "moving the needle" for the economy, saying: "The money will start to come through. Already we've put the £5.8bn in. Next year, from April, business rates [cuts] will apply."

Asked directly whether voters would see a difference before the next election, she answered that they would — a promise town-centre businesses and shoppers will now be watching closely.