Angela Rayner's Remarkable Political Resurgence
In a memorable television interview during her tenure as deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner was asked if she ever aspired to the top job. With a smile, she dismissed the idea outright, claiming it would age her by ten years within six months. While this response may have been sincere at the time, it appears increasingly implausible as Rayner's political fortunes experience a dramatic reversal.
A Picture of Health and Ambition
Contrary to her prediction of accelerated ageing, Rayner appears in rude health, buoyed by the sea air, vigorous country hikes, and hearty breakfasts at her local cafe in Hove on the Sussex coast. Her adopted home provides a backdrop where she enjoys some of the trappings of her former office, including a chauffeur-driven car and personal bodyguards—all still funded by the taxpayer.
Until recently, Rayner maintained public loyalty to Labour leader Keir Starmer. However, her dramatic intervention in the debate over appointing disgraced peer Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, delivered in funereal purple rather than her customary postbox red, signaled a shift. Her backbench revolt was applauded by many, though Starmer likely viewed it with less enthusiasm.
The £1 Million War Chest
Last weekend, The Mail on Sunday revealed that Rayner has amassed a £1 million war chest to fund her bid to succeed Starmer. According to sources, she has already begun promising Cabinet positions to supporters, suggesting her left-wing coup is already underway. This development prompted commentators to wonder if Starmer might be muttering "et tu, Angela" under his breath—a reference to Brutus's betrayal of Julius Caesar.
Rayner's actions contrast sharply with her previous statements. She has criticized politicians' outside earnings but is now signed with a leading speaking agency. She repeatedly condemned "Tory sleaze" but was forced to resign in September for breaking the ministerial code over underpaying stamp duty on her £800,000 Hove apartment, earning her the nickname "Three Pads Rayner."
Financial and Political Resurgence
Politically and financially, Rayner may now be in a stronger position than before her tearful resignation. She splits her time between her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency, where she shares a home with her ex-husband and teenage sons, and Hove weekends, where she enjoys a grand first-floor flat near the beach. Her boyfriend, lobbyist Sam Tarry, 43, has a house nearby.
The couple has become a familiar sight in local wine bars and shops, even dancing together on multiple occasions. "I thought she was practising for Strictly," one amused local revealed. Their favourite haunts include Richard's Cafe, followed by walks in Queen's Park or on the sprawling South Downs.
Taxpayer-Funded Security Details
Recent photographs showed the couple strolling hand-in-hand near Brighton racecourse, shadowed by a woman who appears to be one of Rayner's two personal bodyguards. Five months after her resignation, Rayner still retains a taxpayer-funded security detail, including a female close protection officer from her deputy PM days and a male colleague, both ferried in a luxury BMW SUV.
This security team, provided by a private firm paid from a Parliamentary-administered fund, reportedly costs around £3,000 daily, potentially amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds. "They follow her everywhere," a local observed. The justification cited is graffiti calling Rayner a "tax evader" and other derogatory terms daubed on her Hove property wall after her tax affairs were exposed.
Investigation and Future Prospects
HMRC's investigation into Rayner's stamp duty remains incomplete, though she will likely repay the £40,000 owed. According to Dan Neidle of Tax Policy Associates, any criticism may be muted and attributed to "carelessness" rather than malfeasance. This perception contributes to Rayner being openly discussed as Starmer's replacement.
Any potential fine from HMRC would likely be small and offset by her £17,000 severance payment, a lucrative memoir advance, and public speaking earnings. Jeremy Hunt's example—earning over £260,000 for 21 speeches since October 2024—suggests significant potential income for Rayner on the after-dinner circuit.
Leadership Plotting and Rivalries
Rayner's allies have briefed that she is not an "adornment" to any other contender, signaling a challenge to chief rival Health Secretary Wes Streeting. She has reportedly plotted her coup over Commons tea room lunches and dinners with PR svengali Matthew Freud.
A pivotal role in this drama is her relationship with Sam Tarry, former MP for Ilford South and part of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership team. Their relationship came to light in 2020 when Tarry was photographed leaving Rayner's London pied-à-terre with untied shoelaces and what appeared to be a toothbrush in his pocket.
In July 2022, Tarry was sacked as shadow transport minister for an unauthorized TV interview during a rail strike—a move instrumentalized by Streeting. Rayner's reported response: she would rather "stick pins in her eyes" than support Streeting.
The million-dollar question remains: How long before the Red Queen sticks the dagger into Starmer? With a £1 million war chest, taxpayer-funded security, and growing support, Angela Rayner's political comeback appears not only possible but increasingly probable.
