The Labour Party is facing open internal conflict as evidence of a leadership contest grows, with former deputy leader Angela Rayner breaking her silence in a significant intervention. The move comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer appears increasingly vulnerable following a series of self-inflicted government crises.
Rayner's Return and Positioning
Angela Rayner has re-emerged onto the political stage with her first major interview since resigning over a stamp duty controversy. In her conversation with the Daily Mirror during a constituency visit to a care centre, Rayner positioned herself as a unifying force within the party while criticising what she termed 'arrogance' in Labour's ranks and Westminster 'tittle-tattle'.
When questioned about a potential return to frontline politics, Rayner responded that she hadn't 'gone away', stating she felt 'really humbled' by the support from her Ashton-under-Lyne constituents. She emphasised her ongoing work on issues including child poverty, fair pay agreements, and ensuring the full implementation of the Employment Rights Bill.
Although allies have dismissed claims that she's already lining up MPs for senior jobs in return for support as 'total rubbish', her re-emergence is widely seen as positioning herself as a leadership contender.
Westminster Turmoil and Streeting's Ascent
The leadership jostling follows what has been described as Downing Street's 'extraordinary self-inflicted disaster' last week. Health Secretary Wes Streeting emerged as the biggest beneficiary from panicked briefings apparently designed to shore up Starmer's position, which instead backfired spectacularly.
Streeting capitalised on the chaos by publicly criticising No10's 'toxic culture' and 'self-destruction', demanding that those responsible be sacked. He further strengthened his position by declaring he had never supported the government's shambolic U-turn on plans to increase income tax at the Budget, despite weeks of blatant hints about the policy.
Rayner appeared to take a swipe at Streeting's ambitions, noting that 'Wes has clearly set out his stall' following the turbulent events. However, while Streeting's stock has soared, he's still widely viewed as too far to the right of the party to win broad membership support in a leadership contest, compounded by his wafer-thin parliamentary majority.
Leadership Dynamics and Future Challenges
The developing shadow contest presents contrasting potential candidates. While Streeting has gained prominence through the recent crises, Rayner could potentially rally support from unions and party activists, being viewed as the darling of the Labour left.
Despite being forced to apologise and quit over her tax affairs, supporters would point to the conclusions of the PM's sleaze adviser Sir Laurie Magnus that she had 'acted with integrity' despite making a mistake.
The looming Budget on November 26 and local elections in May represent significant moments of danger for Starmer's leadership. Dire polls showing Reform UK surging have caused panic in Labour ranks, just sixteen months after Starmer's triumphant election landslide.
Other potential contenders mentioned for Labour's top job include Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, though he would need to find a Commons seat to compete. Recently elected deputy leader Lucy Powell, previously seen as the 'anti-Keir' candidate during her campaign, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan are also widely regarded as harbouring leadership ambitions.
As the party navigates these internal tensions, Rayner emphasised the need for unity, stating: 'I think the party should always be together. I've always been of that nature and the way in which I've worked within our movement is, our movement has many different views and we should always look to bind ourselves within that.'
