Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has publicly confirmed that his former deputy, Angela Rayner, will make a return to his top ministerial team. He attributed the intense scrutiny she faced to deep-seated misogyny within political circles.
A Controversial Departure and a Promised Return
Angela Rayner stepped down from her triple role as Deputy Prime Minister, Housing Secretary, and Deputy Labour Leader in September. Her resignation followed the conclusion of an independent ethics investigation. The probe found that she had failed to pay the correct amount of stamp duty on a seaside flat she previously owned.
However, in an interview with The Observer, Starmer left no doubt about her future. He stated he 'missed' Rayner and directly compared the criticism she endured to that faced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, labelling both as products of misogyny. He lavished praise on Rayner, calling her 'the best social mobility story this country has ever seen', a reference to her background of leaving school at 16 and rising to the second-highest office in the land.
Political Reactions and Leadership Speculation
The announcement of Rayner's impending return has not been met with universal approval. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch used Prime Minister's Questions last month to argue that any comeback should be conditional on Rayner repaying £40,000 in property taxes she was alleged to have avoided.
Furthermore, the political rumour mill has been active with reports of a potential pact between Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting to run for the Labour leadership on a 'joint ticket'. A source close to Rayner swiftly dismissed such talk, insisting she 'will not be played like a pawn' and stating clearly that 'there is no vacancy, and there is no pact'.
Starmer's Defiant Stance on His Premiership
Amidst the speculation, Sir Keir Starmer was emphatic about his own position, insisting he has no intention of stepping down before the next general election. He framed the current challenges as part of a pattern of doubt he has consistently overcome.
'When I took over the Labour party, everyone said to me, 'you’re not going to be able to change the party'. We ignored that and carried on,' Starmer said. 'Then they said to me, 'you’re not going to be able to win an election'. We got a landslide Labour victory. Now, 17 months into a five-year Labour term, they say 'you’re not able to change the country'. Every time we’ve been in this position, we’ve defied them. And that’s what I intend to do.'
Starmer concluded his remarks on Rayner by reiterating a private assurance, telling The Observer: 'As I said to her at the time, she’s going to be a major voice in the Labour movement.' Her return to the cabinet table now seems a definitive step in that direction.
