Rayner's Team Dismisses 'Fake' Leadership Website as Unauthorised
Angela Rayner has firmly denied any association with an unfinished website that briefly appeared online in January, purportedly launching her campaign for the Labour leadership. Her team has dismissed the site as a "fake" creation, asserting it was neither commissioned by the former deputy prime minister nor developed with her knowledge. This incident has ignited further speculation about Rayner's potential ambitions to succeed Keir Starmer, despite her allies insisting she has no intention of challenging the current prime minister.
Website Briefly Went Live Amid Leadership Rumours
The Guardian was alerted to the website, which appeared to be under construction, by a source in the IT industry. It was published, seemingly by accident, on a "staging site" before being swiftly removed from the internet. Concurrently, the domain name angelaforleader.co.uk was registered at 9.48am on 27 January, using the same company, Webfusion, as her official parliamentary site. This timing has raised eyebrows, suggesting a coordinated effort, though Rayner's camp maintains no involvement.
One ally of Rayner described the website as a "crass false-flag operation," explicitly designed to undermine her future leadership prospects. They argued that such "by-the-playbook dirty tricks" are laughable in their transparency, yet serious in their intent to damage her political standing. However, there is no evidence that the site was deliberately leaked to journalists or political figures; instead, it appears to have been discovered by chance during a brief window of availability.
Political Context: Starmer Under Pressure
This development emerges at a critical juncture for the Labour Party, with Keir Starmer facing significant pressure following the departure of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and calls for his resignation from Anas Sarwar, Labour's leader in Scotland. Starmer has struggled to contain internal anger over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, a decision that has sparked controversy and led some within the party to speculate about potential successors.
Rayner's stock has risen among MPs in recent months as she has spoken out on policy areas she views as her legacies, such as employment rights and leasehold reform, which resonate strongly with the Labour membership. Sources indicate that she has been planning for a potential leadership campaign for months, engaging in private polling, fundraising, and strategic discussions. Yet, allies stress that she remains loyal to Starmer and is not actively seeking to undermine him.
Website Content and Legal Implications
The draft website featured images of Angela Rayner alongside text stating, "Angela Rayner is running for Leader to fight for working-class Britain." It included an endorsements page and a form for party members to join her campaign, with sections detailing her background from care worker to deputy prime minister. The site opened with "Meet Angela" against a red background, highlighting her journey as emblematic of working-class Britain.
A spokesperson for Rayner has categorically denied any connection to the site, stating, "This fake website has nothing to do with Angela. It was not commissioned by her or with her knowledge. She will take legal advice given the use of her name and image without her consent." This legal threat underscores the seriousness with which her team views the unauthorised use of her identity.
Broader Leadership Landscape
The appearance of the website coincides with reports that Rayner has told friends she "will be ready" to run should Starmer be forced to resign, though her spokesperson has rejected this claim. Additionally, her intervention in the Mandelson appointment row has been interpreted by some as an attempt to position herself as an alternative leader, though her camp insists she was merely aiding the government during a crisis.
Rayner also faces challenges, including an unresolved HMRC investigation into her tax affairs, which some MPs believe could hinder her leadership bid. Meanwhile, other potential contenders like Wes Streeting, the health secretary, have seen their prospects complicated by associations with Mandelson, leaving no clear successor should Starmer depart.
Political advisers note that ambitious politicians often prepare for leadership contests long before it is publicly acceptable, sometimes with supporters acting independently. However, Rayner's team remains adamant that this website is an external fabrication, aimed at destabilising her position within the Labour Party.
