Angela Rayner is writing a memoir detailing her journey from child poverty to deputy prime minister and her subsequent fall from grace, the Guardian has learned. The book, set for release in the second half of 2026, is widely seen as an attempt to shape the narrative ahead of a potential Labour leadership contest.
The memoir, published by The Bodley Head, will cover Rayner’s impoverished childhood, leaving school at 16 while pregnant, her rise through the union movement and the Labour party, and her resignation as deputy prime minister in September after failing to pay stamp duty on a flat. Rayner has kept a low profile since stepping down, intervening publicly only on issues such as workers’ rights, where she warned the government not to “blink or buckle” on the bill.
Often viewed as a potential successor to Keir Starmer, Rayner declined to rule out a leadership bid after her resignation, saying she had “not gone away”. Starmer recently called her “hugely talented” and indicated he would bring her back to the cabinet. Allies say she was shaken by the stamp duty row’s impact on her family and is awaiting word from HMRC on settling the debt, factors that will influence any decision to run.
Unlike Tony Blair or Wes Streeting, Rayner will use a ghostwriter to capture her plain-speaking style and will read the audiobook herself. A friend said the book aims to “inspire and encourage others to overcome adversity”, adding it “won’t be your standard politician’s memoir”. Alice Skinner, editorial director at The Bodley Head, promised an “unvarnished and upfront” account that “will spark change, one reader at a time”.
The announcement comes as Starmer faces a precarious moment ahead of next May’s elections, where Labour expects poor results that could fuel questions about his leadership. Before her resignation, Rayner was seen as the frontrunner to succeed him, alongside Streeting, Shabana Mahmood and Andy Burnham. Downing Street has worked to shore up Starmer, including a misjudged operation last month that appeared to confirm his vulnerability to a leadership challenge.
