In her first major interview since stepping down, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has launched a stinging attack on the 'arrogant tittle-tattle' and internal conflicts that have consumed the Labour Party over the past week. Speaking from her constituency, Rayner emphasised that Westminster gossip appears detached from the real challenges facing ordinary people.
Leadership Ambitions Remain Unclear
When questioned about her political future, Rayner pointedly declined to rule out a potential leadership bid or a return to frontline politics. 'I have not gone away,' she told the Daily Mirror, a statement that will fuel speculation about her ambitions to potentially succeed Keir Starmer. She stressed the importance of party unity, stating she has always worked to bind the movement's diverse views together.
The recent turmoil was partly triggered by briefing against Health Secretary Wes Streeting, whom some allies of the Prime Minister accused of plotting a leadership challenge. Rayner came to his defence, noting that Streeting had clearly set out his position after what she described as a 'very turbulent couple of days' for the government.
Cabinet Colleague Labels Speculation 'Mortifying'
Echoing the call for discipline, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood publicly described the past week of leadership speculation as 'deeply mortifying' for everyone in the government. Appearing on the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mahmood expressed hope that the Prime Minister had now drawn a line under the damaging episode.
She issued a stark warning to her colleagues, reminding them of the privilege of being in government and the rarity of Labour administrations in British history. 'We have precious time. We must not waste a single second of it,' she urged, calling on all cabinet ministers to focus entirely on their jobs.
The Hunt for the Source and Moving Forward
Mahmood acknowledged the difficulty in identifying who was responsible for the anonymous briefings, which had included speculation about the role of the Prime Minister's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. She stated that while it was unlikely a specific individual would be found, she hoped those responsible were feeling 'abject humiliation' and would not repeat their actions.
Both senior figures have now thrown their weight behind a collective effort to move past the internal strife and concentrate on governing. With the Prime Minister having set a clear tone that such behaviour is unacceptable, the party appears to be attempting to regain its focus after a week of damaging self-inflicted controversy.
