Angela Rayner says Starmer must ‘meet the moment’ – statement in full
Angela Rayner has criticised what she calls a “toxic culture of cronyism” in a 1000-word statement issued after this week’s local elections. Rayner, who resigned as deputy prime minister in September 2025, has called on the Labour Party to “live up to our name: we must be the party of working people.” She further warned […]
Week-in-Review: Starmer has every reason to fear a deputy leadership election
“Summer is definitely over”, exhaled a self-assured sounding Keir Starmer on Monday. The prime minister had just kicked off the new parliamentary term with a relatively wholesale rejig of his Downing Street operation. A new “chief secretary to the prime minister” post was created; Darren Jones, rated in Downing Street, was poached from the Treasury […]
Angela Rayner: ‘Not a chance’ I want to become prime minister
Angela Rayner has dismissed the prospect of her ever becoming prime minister, saying there is “not a chance” she will take on the role. The deputy prime minister said moving to 10 Downing Street would “age me by 10 years within six months”. Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, Rayner commented: “Even before I was in politics, […]
PMQs verdict: Angela Rayner feels the force of Labour rebellion
Keir Starmer is today detained overseas for a landmark Nato summit, once again preventing him from performing his duties at prime minister’s questions. In stepped Angela Rayner to command her second session in as many weeks. That makes her the most senior government minister to take questions from the despatch box since rebel MPs publicly […]
PMQs verdict: Chris Philp’s sound and fury signified little
Kemi Badenoch’s decision not to appoint a deputy when she assembled her frontbench last November raised eyebrows in Westminster. The Conservative leader simply declined the opportunity to vault some loyal operator or appease an erstwhile rival. The rationale, according to a briefing secured by the Express newspaper, concerned deputy prime minister’s questions (DPMQs) — and […]
UK must work with US whoever is in office, Rayner says after Trump suspends Ukraine aid
The United Kingdom’s relationship with the United States “will endure” no matter who is in office, the deputy prime minister has said. Angela Rayner said the prime minister remains “laser-focused” on Ukraine and would not be “derailed” by announcements from the White House, following news that Donald Trump has ordered that all military aid be […]
PMQs verdict: Angela Rayner mounts bullish defence of Labour’s IHT changes
The below content first appeared in Politics.co.uk’s Politics@Lunch newsletter, sign-up for free and never miss our daily briefing. Commons convention dictates that when the prime minister is away, the opposition party must also field a deputising figure at PMQs. Given the pace at which Keir Starmer has accumulated air miles in recent weeks — as an […]
PMQs verdict: Angela Rayner lovingly eviscerates Dowden in final ‘battle of the gingers’
The B Team were back in the House of Commons today, assuming positions on behalf of their bosses for the first time since the election in July.
Government to repeal ‘pointless’ anti-strike law in industrial relations ‘reset’
The government has confirmed it is repealing a piece of legislation that limited the ability of unions to strike. The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 compelled various sectors to provide a minimum level of service in the event of industrial action. The Act enabled bosses in health, education, fire, ambulance, rail and nuclear commissioning […]
Rayner admits falling asleep on her Red Box as she describes how she first became involved in politics
Following yesterday’s announcement about plans to increase the number of affordable homes, the deputy prime minister has pointed to the sudden work pressure of the job since taking up her post. Speaking today on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ programme, Angela Rayner described her work pattern since this month’s general election as “Eat, sleep, work, repeat” before […]
