Angela Rayner Suggests Return to Frontline Politics Amid Labour Infighting
In her first major interview since stepping down as housing secretary, Angela Rayner has reignited speculation about her future as a potential Labour leader. While dismissing the "arrogant tittle-tattle" and infighting that dominated the past week, Rayner refused to rule out running for the top job in the future.
The former deputy prime minister, who was considered a frontrunner to succeed Keir Starmer before her shock resignation, hinted that she would renew her public profile in the coming months. Those close to Rayner believe her decision to leave government was primarily driven by the emotional toll on her family following news of underpaid stamp duty.
Rayner's allies suggest she has gained a clearer understanding of how to implement Labour values in government since leaving her role and would be keen to return to frontline politics. She has recently joined the Tribune group, a soft Labour faction led by ex-cabinet minister Louise Haigh, which aims to grow its influence.
However, those around Rayner downplay talk of an imminent leadership challenge. "It's nonsense that she's plotting some sort of challenge," said one source. "She'd never have attempted to force Starmer out if he wasn't in a position to step down himself." The prospect of another leadership contest after the May elections remains uncertain, but Rayner did suggest that she might reconsider her decision to leave politics if circumstances change.
In a scathing critique of Labour infighting, Rayner praised Wes Streeting's commitment to his role as health secretary and dismissed the briefing against him as "arrogant" and self-serving. While some allies have floated the idea of a deal between Rayner and Streeting over the leadership, there is currently no agreement on who would secure the top job.
Shabana Mahmood, another senior Labour MP, warned her party not to forget its privilege to be in government and urged everyone involved in the infighting to draw a line under speculation. With the prime minister's position now clear, it remains to be seen whether Rayner will seize an opportunity to revive her leadership ambitions or continue to focus on frontline politics.
In her first major interview since stepping down as housing secretary, Angela Rayner has reignited speculation about her future as a potential Labour leader. While dismissing the "arrogant tittle-tattle" and infighting that dominated the past week, Rayner refused to rule out running for the top job in the future.
The former deputy prime minister, who was considered a frontrunner to succeed Keir Starmer before her shock resignation, hinted that she would renew her public profile in the coming months. Those close to Rayner believe her decision to leave government was primarily driven by the emotional toll on her family following news of underpaid stamp duty.
Rayner's allies suggest she has gained a clearer understanding of how to implement Labour values in government since leaving her role and would be keen to return to frontline politics. She has recently joined the Tribune group, a soft Labour faction led by ex-cabinet minister Louise Haigh, which aims to grow its influence.
However, those around Rayner downplay talk of an imminent leadership challenge. "It's nonsense that she's plotting some sort of challenge," said one source. "She'd never have attempted to force Starmer out if he wasn't in a position to step down himself." The prospect of another leadership contest after the May elections remains uncertain, but Rayner did suggest that she might reconsider her decision to leave politics if circumstances change.
In a scathing critique of Labour infighting, Rayner praised Wes Streeting's commitment to his role as health secretary and dismissed the briefing against him as "arrogant" and self-serving. While some allies have floated the idea of a deal between Rayner and Streeting over the leadership, there is currently no agreement on who would secure the top job.
Shabana Mahmood, another senior Labour MP, warned her party not to forget its privilege to be in government and urged everyone involved in the infighting to draw a line under speculation. With the prime minister's position now clear, it remains to be seen whether Rayner will seize an opportunity to revive her leadership ambitions or continue to focus on frontline politics.
i'm low-key shipping her for the top job btw, idk what's going on with labour infighting tho, can't they just focus on the bigger picture 
rayner's decision to leave gov was super personal tho, i feel bad for her fam 
angela rayner was always my fave lab leader candidate & imo she'd kill it if she ran for top dog again. i mean, shes got the passion & drive to really make a change. plus, her stance on stamp duty is SO relatable lol. idk about lab infighting tho... can't they just get along? 
. I mean, she's been out of the spotlight and all that, but you'd think with Labour in such a mess, someone needs to shake things up 
. Rayner's got some solid points about the party infighting being arrogant and self-serving... let's be real, it's getting old 
. She might just be waiting for the right moment to make her move 
. I'm not sure if she'd make a great leader tho 
.
anyway, Angela Rayner is all about that frontline life now, I can dig it. She's been through so much already and still hasn't given up on her dreams. I reckon she'll make a killer leader one day, just you watch! Her family situation must've made her super emotional back then, I mean who wouldn't be? stamp duty drama is no joke 
And poor Wes Streeting getting beefed over by his own party... I swear it's like the same old tale as when Tony Blair left Labour in '07 and everyone was all "oh no he didn't!" anyway, let's hope Rayner stays focused on making a difference rather than chasing that top job again 
her fam has been dealing with stress & anxiety due to stamp duty drama 
infighting can be really toxic & hurtful to ppl involved 
but at the same time, it's good that she's thinking of re-entering politics 
maybe she'll use her experience to bring back a sense of unity & purpose to labour 
. Angela Rayner was like "Peace out" and then suddenly she's back talking about running for leader? Like, can we just have one clear answer already? 
I get that her departure from the housing sec job was tough on her fam, but let's not forget about the party politics too 
.
. Can't we just have some stability in our politics for once? 
after dealing with all that drama and stress. I mean, who wouldn't want to leave the politics scene if it's getting too intense? But at the same time, she's got a lot of potential as a leader, and I think she should really consider giving it another shot 
!
Anyway, it's good that she's joining the Tribune group, maybe that'll help her grow as a leader. And honestly, I'm tired of all these leadership challenges and infighting – can't they just focus on what matters: helping people? 
She's also speaking her mind about those pesky infighting rumors - I love how she called them out as "arrogant" 
We need more strong women in politics, and Rayner definitely fits the bill 