Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer's immigration plans, branding them 'un-British' and warning that the Labour Party is 'running out of time' to deliver change.
Speaking at a Mainstream campaign group event in London, Rayner said the government 'cannot just go through the motions in the face of decline' and that the party's survival is at stake. She criticised the proposed extension of the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain from five to ten years, arguing that 'moving the goalposts undermines our sense of fair play'.
Rayner called for 'sustainable economic migration rules' that uphold 'British values' and provide a 'fair pathway forward' for those who have built lawful lives in the UK. She also condemned Reform UK and other opposition parties for 'pitting people against one another' and stoking fear.
The intervention comes amid speculation that Rayner could challenge Starmer for the leadership. Last month, the Guardian reported that an unfinished website for a Rayner leadership campaign had been published temporarily, though she has not confirmed any such bid.
