Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has declared he 'absolutely' wants his former deputy, Angela Rayner, to return to his cabinet following her resignation over a stamp duty controversy.
Endorsement from the G20 Summit
Speaking from the G20 Summit in South Africa on Sunday 23 November 2025, Sir Keir told broadcasters he remains in contact with Ms Rayner. He lavished praise on her, describing her as 'the best example ever' of social mobility in the United Kingdom.
When questioned about the possibility of her returning to the front bench before a general election, the Prime Minister was unequivocal. 'I've always said I want Angela back,' he stated. 'Even back in September at the time I said she is going to be a big voice in the Labour movement. Do I want Angela back at some stage? Yes absolutely.'
A Story of Meteoric Rise and Resignation
Sir Keir highlighted Ms Rayner's journey from leaving school at 16 while pregnant and with no qualifications to becoming Deputy Prime Minister. 'She is the story of social mobility above all other stories,' he emphasised, adding that he is friends with her and they still talk frequently.
Ms Rayner's political career faced a significant setback in September 2025. She resigned from her roles as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary after it emerged she had not paid the higher rate of stamp duty on a second home she purchased in Hove, East Sussex. This oversight saved her approximately £1,500.
The situation was explored in a tearful interview with Sky's Political Editor Beth Rigby, where Ms Rayner explained the 'complex living arrangement' concerning her first home. Following her divorce, the property was sold to a trust to provide stability for her teenage son, who has lifelong disabilities and is the trust's sole beneficiary.
An investigation by the Prime Minister's ethics watchdog concluded that while she breached the ministerial code by failing to seek correct tax advice, she had acted 'with integrity'.
Support for a Comeback
Despite currently serving as a backbench MP, a return to high office seems plausible. Ms Rayner herself recently did not rule out a comeback, telling the Daily Mirror during a constituency visit that she had 'not gone away'.
She is not without supporters within the cabinet. At the Labour Party Conference just weeks after her resignation, Health Secretary Wes Streeting paid tribute to her work on the Employment Rights Bill, publicly stating that the Labour party 'wants her back and needs her back'.
