Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly considering a small-scale cabinet reshuffle that could bring Angela Rayner back into government, nearly eight months after she resigned as deputy prime minister over her tax arrangements. The move is seen as an effort to steady the ship ahead of next week's local elections, which are expected to deliver significant losses for Labour.
Rayner, a senior Labour figure, was forced to resign in September last year due to an underpayment of stamp duty on a flat. Since then, she has balanced loyalty to the government with occasional interventions on policy, including a compromise on the workers' rights bill and a critical speech last month in which she described proposed immigration rule changes as 'un-British'.
Starmer has previously indicated he would welcome Rayner back, and the two reportedly discussed the idea during a joint school visit this month. However, her return is contingent on the resolution of an ongoing HMRC investigation into the stamp duty underpayment. Allies of Rayner had hoped the matter would be settled before the elections, but the timetable may have slipped.
Elections analyst Robert Hayward has predicted Labour could lose 1,850 council seats, which would exceed the 1,500 losses cited as a possible trigger for a cabinet revolt. Reform UK is forecast to gain 1,550 councillors and the Greens 500. Such results could increase pressure on Starmer to reset his government and signal a change of direction.
It remains uncertain whether Rayner would accept a return to the frontbench. She is understood to be open to serious offers but would likely refuse a 'non-job'. Some within government suspect she may be positioning herself as a potential leadership challenger, while others note her ability to connect with voters in ways Starmer cannot. Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has called for 'a moment of reflection' for Labour after the elections, fuelling further speculation about future leadership contests.
