UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed former Deputy PM Angela Rayner will return to the cabinet, calling her “hugely talented” and condemning misogyny.
As reported by The Independent, Sir Keir Starmer praised Angela Rayner as “hugely talented” and confirmed her cabinet return, criticizing misogynistic attacks against her.
Ms Rayner stepped down as deputy Labour leader, housing secretary, and deputy prime minister after an investigation revealed she had underpaid stamp duty on her Hove flat.
What did Sir Keir Starmer say about Angela Rayner’s return to the cabinet?
During a Sunday interview, Sir Keir Starmer said he missed Angela Rayner and described her as
“the best social mobility story this country has ever seen.”
His comments come amid rising concerns over the government’s direction and low approval ratings, with reports suggesting Ms Rayner may consider a joint bid with Health Secretary Wes Streeting to contest Labour’s leadership.
Pressed on whether he missed his ex-deputy, the Labour leader said,
“Yes, of course I do. I was really sad that we lost her. As I said to her at the time, she’s going to be a major voice in the Labour movement.”
When asked whether she will be back in the cabinet, he replied,
“Yes. She’s hugely talented.”
The Prime Minister criticized what he described as “misogyny” behind the recent scrutiny of Ms Rayner and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
During a detailed interview, Mr Starmer reaffirmed he will remain in office until the next election.
He said,
“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.”
The Labour leader added,
“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.”
How did Angela Rayner respond to reports of a joint Labour leadership bid?
An insider close to former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said this week she will
“not be played like a pawn”
following claims of a deal for her and Wes Streeting to run for Labour leadership.
According to the source,
“there is no vacancy and there is no pact”
after reports that Mr Streeting’s allies were pressing Ms Rayner to join a “joint ticket” for the leadership bid.
Ms Rayner’s allies previously dismissed “false” claims that she is considering a Labour leadership bid, with the ex-deputy prime minister saying she has “not gone away” when questioned on a return to frontline politics.
Speaking at a Labour conference in Liverpool in September, the Health Secretary paid tribute to Ms Rayner, saying Labour
“wants her back and needs her back.”
He said Labour’s new fair pay deal for care workers could not have been secured without Ms Rayner.
Mr Streeting stated,
“There’s someone else who’s made a real difference, who understands the struggle care workers face because she was one.”
The Health Secretary added,
“She brought that experience to the cabinet table as the care worker who became our country’s deputy prime minister. Angela Rayner, this achievement is yours. Thank you.”
He continued,
“And we want her back as well. We’ll definitely make sure she sees that. We need her back.”
Last month, Mr Streeting rejected allegations that he planned to replace the prime minister and urged the removal of officials briefing against him from Downing Street.
The Health Secretary hit out at “self-defeating” attacks from Number 10, calling them a sign of a toxic culture inside Downing Street. He criticized senior aides behind the briefings, saying they revealed that “
there are people around the prime minister who do not follow his model and style of leadership.”
Commenting on the briefings, he added,
“I can tell you without having even spoken to the prime minister what he thinks of briefing, what his reaction will be to the front pages and the broadcast bulletins overnight and the words I’m sure he would use are not suitable for a family show.”
Why did Angela Rayner resign as deputy prime minister and housing secretary?
Angela Rayner resigned in September after admitting she underpaid stamp duty on her £800,000 flat, amid calls for greater transparency over her property dealings.
She has referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics adviser after acknowledging she underpaid stamp duty, with experts estimating the additional bill could reach £40,000.
In her statement, Ms Rayner said,
“When purchasing the property my understanding, on advice from lawyers, was that my circumstances meant I was liable for the standard rate of stamp duty.”
She added,
“I deeply regret the error that has been made. I am committed to resolving this matter fully and providing the transparency that public service demands. It is for that reason I have today referred myself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards, and will provide him with my fullest cooperation and access to all the information he requires.”
Her resignation prompted the Prime Minister to reshuffle the cabinet, appointing David Lammy as deputy prime minister and justice secretary, Yvette Cooper to his former role, and Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary.
