In her first significant interview since stepping down from government, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has launched a stinging attack on the internal squabbles dominating Westminster, labelling them "arrogant tittle tattle".
A Return to Constituency Roots
Speaking to The Mirror from her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency in Greater Manchester on Saturday 15 November 2025, Ms Rayner denied she was stepping back from frontline politics. She firmly stated she would "keep fighting" for the concerns of ordinary citizens, declaring "I've not gone away."
She expressed that having more time in her constituency was a humbling experience, allowing her to refocus on the people she was elected to represent, despite her previous high-ranking positions within the Labour Party.
Condemning Westminster's 'Argy-Bargy'
The interview followed a week of intense political manoeuvring in Westminster, fuelled by rumours that Health Secretary Wes Streeting was considering a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer.
Ms Rayner did not hold back in her criticism of such behaviour. "I think being around here for the last hour just shows you actually that that tittle tattle in Westminster it almost looks arrogant when you've got real challenges that real people are facing," she explained, emphasising that this is where MPs' focus should truly lie.
A Pledge for Workers' Rights
Ms Rayner gave her interview during a visit to the Hurst Hall Care Centre, a setting that underscored her commitment to workers' rights. As a former carer herself, she spoke with passion about a sector she feels is often forgotten.
"I feel a bit angry because care workers, they're almost forgotten, and everyone values them," she said. This direct engagement with frontline workers reinforced her determination to advance the party's landmark Employment Rights Bill.
She drew a clear distinction between political point-scoring and meaningful action. "The message from me being here is that this is what it's about. It's not about the argy-bargy of whether you want to score or land a blow on the Government, this is about real people's lives," Ms Rayner asserted, vowing to continue her fight both in government and now from the backbenches.
Angela Rayner resigned as deputy prime minister in September after admitting she had underpaid stamp duty on a property she once owned in Hove.
