Labour Rayner not ruling out run to be next leader

Allies of Angela Rayner say the former deputy prime minister will seek to renew her public profile in the coming months and would probably run in a future leadership contest.

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In her first major interview since her shock resignation over underpaid stamp duty, Rayner condemned the "arrogant tittle-tattle" and Labour infighting dominating the past week.

Rayner, often considered a potential successor to Keir Starmer, declined to rule out running for the job or returning to frontline politics, saying she had "not gone away".

However, those close to Rayner, often seen as the frontrunner to succeed Starmer until she resigned, say she was significantly shaken by the impact on her family.

They said that would be the most important factor in whether she would run and it was nonsense she was plotting an imminent challenge.

One source close to Rayner said she had left her role as housing secretary with a much clearer view of how to implement Labour values in government and would be keen to return to do more. She has joined the Tribune group of soft Labour MPs, run by the ex-cabinet minister Louise Haigh, which hopes to grow considerably in influence.