Angela Rayner has criticised anonymous No 10 officials who have briefed against senior cabinet ministers, warning they are committing 'self-harm'. The deputy prime minister defended herself and other colleagues, often women, who have faced negative headlines and been tipped for the sack in a future reshuffle.
Speaking to the Guardian's Politics Weekly podcast, Rayner expressed frustration at briefings that she said did not reflect reality. 'Sometimes there are briefings and I don't know where these alleged sources are,' she said. 'It's not a good idea to do that, and it wouldn't be helpful to No 10 to do that.'
Rayner highlighted colleagues such as Bridget Phillipson and Lisa Nandy who have been targeted. Reports earlier this year suggested Nandy and Phillipson would be moved, prompting complaints about 'sexist briefings'. Starmer is understood to have assured both ministers their jobs are safe.
Reflecting on Labour's first year in power, Rayner acknowledged frustrations among the electorate and admitted lessons needed to be learned. She said the government had not done enough to listen to backbench MPs, particularly during a rebellion on benefits cuts. 'Our values got lost in the messaging,' she said.
