Angela Rayner has stated that she has been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing in an investigation concerning her tax affairs, paving the way for a potential leadership bid amid ongoing uncertainty regarding Sir Keir Starmer's future.
As Health Secretary Wes Streeting considers launching a challenge against the Prime Minister, Sir Keir's former deputy did not dismiss the possibility of entering any leadership race but emphasised she would not 'trigger' a contest.
Ms Rayner, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, informed the Guardian that the investigation into her underpayment of stamp duty, which led to her departure from Government, had 'clipped her wings'. She remarked: 'I'll play my part in doing everything we possibly can to deliver the change, because it's not a personal ambition, I know the difference it makes.'
In an interview with ITV, the former deputy Labour leader denied any arrangement with potential leadership contender Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, whose return to Westminster would be complicated by the need to contest and win a by-election. She added: 'I am not doing deals.' She expressed a desire for the party to 'pull together' after days of turmoil but declined to discuss 'hypotheticals' when asked about running in a future contest.
The Health Secretary is believed to have informed allies that he is preparing to resign on Thursday and announce a bid for the top job after Labour descended into open division at the start of the week.
Efforts to remove Sir Keir from Downing Street appeared to stall on Wednesday, with no further ministerial resignations or backbench calls for his resignation as Westminster turned its attention to the King's Speech. Labour's trade union backers had withdrawn their support for Sir Keir that morning, while Mr Streeting's team did not deny claims that he was poised to quit.
If he mounts a challenge, Mr Streeting will require the backing of 81 Labour MPs to initiate a formal contest. While approximately 87 MPs have publicly called for Sir Keir's resignation, they are not united behind a single candidate to replace him.
Other figures considered potential challengers include Energy Secretary and former party leader Ed Miliband, as well as armed forces minister Al Carns. In an article for The New Statesman published on Thursday, former Royal Marines officer Mr Carns stated: 'We do not need more slogans, strategies, press releases or commissions. We need action.'
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has questioned whether any of the Prime Minister's rivals can amass the necessary support to launch a contest. Sir Keir himself is expected to fight any leadership challenge and spent Wednesday afternoon meeting ministers and Labour MPs as he sought to avert a coup.
On Thursday, he will attempt to regain control of the political agenda by introducing legislation to overhaul social housing and the 'right to buy'. Ahead of the introduction of the Social Housing Renewal Bill, intended to boost the supply of council homes, Sir Keir said his Government was 'taking responsibility, rebuilding social housing, and delivering the change people voted for'.
Meanwhile, the prospect of a return to Parliament for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham receded as more MPs declared they did not intend to give up their seats to allow him to contest a by-election. Manchester MPs Afzal Khan and Jeff Smith had been rumoured in Westminster to be willing to make way for Mr Burnham, but both men expressly denied to the Press Association that they were preparing to stand down.
