Starmer judgement in spotlight after Rayner exit forces Cabinet reshuffle

THE resignation of Angela Rayner left the Government engulfed by turmoil last night, with Sir Keir Starmer forced to carry out an emergency reshuffle of his Cabinet.

- By Jonathan Walker

Ms Rayner quit as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary after an independent ethics watchdog found she broke the ministerial code by underpaying stamp duty on the purchase of a flat in Hove by £40,000.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, she took “full responsibility for this error” and said she was quitting partly because of the “unbearable” strain on her family.

In response, Sir Keir accepted Ms Rayner’s decision and paid tribute, saying: “You have been a trusted colleague and friend. You will remain a major figure in our party.”

But Conservatives said the scandal raised questions about the PM’s judgment, after he defended his deputy earlier this week by claiming she was the victim of a “briefing war” because she came from “a very humble background”. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Angela Rayner is finally gone. But it’s only because of Keir Starmer’s weakness that she wasn’t sacked three days ago.”

The PM was forced to carry out a major reshuffle of his Cabinet, with Downing Street sources making no secret of the fact that he had hoped to delay the changes to his top team.