Prime Minister Keir Starmer has strongly indicated his desire to see former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner return to his Cabinet before the country heads to the polls in the next general election.
A Door Left Open for Return
Speaking to reporters at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, the Prime Minister opened the door for a political comeback for Ms Rayner, who was forced to resign from her dual roles in September. He revealed he still maintains regular contact with his former deputy, referring to her fondly as 'Angie'.
When questioned on the possibility of her rejoining the Cabinet ahead of an election, Mr Starmer was unequivocal. "I've always said I want Angela back," he stated, recalling his comments from the time of her departure. "Even back in September at the time I said she is going to be a big voice in the Labour movement."
Praise for a 'Social Mobility' Story
The Prime Minister went further, lavishing praise on Ms Rayner's personal journey, holding it up as an inspirational example for the nation. He emphatically declared his wish for her return, saying, "But do I want Angela back at some stage? Yes absolutely."
He elaborated, "I think she is the best example ever in the United Kingdom of social mobility - going from a pretty challenging childhood to being deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She is the story of social mobility above all other stories."
Pressed on whether he personally missed her presence in government, Mr Starmer affirmed their strong personal rapport, adding, "I'm friends with Angie and I like Angie a lot and we talk a lot. We still do. It's always good to have Angela."
The Resignation and the Road Ahead
Ms Rayner's resignation in September 2025 came after an investigation by the PM's ethics chief, Sir Laurie Magnus. The probe found she had breached the ministerial code by underpaying stamp duty on a seaside property in Hove, East Sussex, by approximately £40,000.
While the investigation concluded she had "acted with integrity and with a dedicated and exemplary commitment to public service," the rule breach necessitated her stepping down from her positions as Deputy Prime Minister, Housing Secretary, and her elected role as Labour's deputy leader.
In her resignation statement, Ms Rayner admitted the error, stating that HMRC had her "full cooperation" and vowing to pay the tax owed. She described it as an "honestly made mistake" for which she was taking responsibility.
In a subsequent interview with the Sunday Mirror, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne insisted she had "not gone away" from frontline politics. She expressed her commitment to championing issues such as child poverty and workers' rights from her constituency, signalling her ongoing political ambitions and readiness for a future role.
