Starmer Backs Rayner's Future Role in Labour Politics
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has offered his clearest indication yet that former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner will make a significant return to frontline politics, declaring she is "certainly not dead yet" and possesses a "huge contribution to make" to the Labour Party's future.
Praise for Past Achievements and Future Potential
Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Starmer reflected on Ms Rayner's substantial role in Labour's electoral success and her legislative legacy. "She played a huge part in the achievement that we got at the last election; getting elected," he stated, while also highlighting the recent Employment Rights Act which bears "her fingerprints all over it."
The Prime Minister emphasised his consistent position regarding his former deputy's political trajectory. "I've always said that Angela has not only played a big part in Labour politics in our country's politics, but has got a big part to play in the future," Mr Starmer remarked. "That's not new. I said that on the day that she stepped down, and I don't doubt that that's true."
Timing and Conditions for a Comeback
When pressed specifically about Ms Rayner's potential return to the Cabinet table, the Prime Minister provided a qualified but encouraging response. "I would like to have Angela back at the right point," he told interviewers, adding, "I've always been clear she has a future role to play. She's a fantastic asset for the Labour Party."
This public endorsement comes as Ms Rayner continues to navigate the aftermath of her September resignation. She stepped down from her position as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary after an investigation by the Prime Minister's ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, concluded she had breached the ministerial code by underpaying approximately £40,000 in stamp duty on a property in Hove, East Sussex.
Ongoing HMRC Probe and Ally Frustrations
The former minister currently faces a separate investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) regarding the tax matter. This ongoing process has reportedly become a source of frustration for her political allies, who believe its protracted nature is unnecessarily delaying any potential comeback.
One Labour MP and close ally of Ms Rayner voiced sharp criticism of the tax authority, describing HMRC to The Times as an "inept department that takes for ever to make a decision." Other supporters have suggested her political future remains secure regardless of the investigation's outcome, framing the situation as a no-lose scenario for her public standing.
Leadership Speculation and Electoral Context
Ms Rayner's enduring prominence within the party has fuelled ongoing speculation that she remains a potential leadership contender should Mr Starmer's position become vulnerable. The Prime Minister himself faces immediate political tests, including the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election in Greater Manchester and the local elections in May.
When asked whether he wanted Ms Rayner to participate in campaigning for the critical by-election, Mr Starmer stressed the importance of a united party effort. "I want everybody on the ground in the by-election because it's going to be a straight fight between Labour and Reform," he asserted, framing the contest as a battle against "gutter politics of divide and toxic division."
Rayner's Own Defiant Message
The phrase "not dead yet" directly echoes comments attributed to Ms Rayner herself. At a recent Labour fundraising dinner, she reportedly reflected on her political journey, stating, "I've come through the ranks and had the honour and the privilege to get us into government and become your deputy prime minister. And I'm still fighting. I'm not dead yet."
In her resignation statement last September, Ms Rayner accepted responsibility for the stamp duty error while maintaining it was an honest mistake. "There is no excuse not to pay taxes owed, and I will do so," she said. "This was an honestly made mistake, but when you make a mistake you take responsibility." She also confirmed her full cooperation with the HMRC inquiry.
The combined statements from the Prime Minister and the former deputy prime minister paint a picture of a political figure in temporary retreat rather than permanent exile, with both hinting strongly at a carefully timed return to the centre of UK political life.
