Labour leadership Westminster gossip returns to Rayner

Because the political world abhors a vacuum of intrigue and gossip, the scuppering of Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster means renewed attention on other potential successors to Keir Starmer.

- Peter Walker Pippa Crerar

This is in turn likely to involve renewed scrutiny for Angela Rayner.Starmer’s former number two and housing secretary has been quietly loyal since she resigned as a minister nearly five months ago after what she said was the inadvertent underpayment of stamp duty on a flat in Hove.

Rayner has resurfaced on occasions to try and nudge policy in areas she views as her legacies, notably to hold ministerial feet to the fire on her workers’ rights legislation, and some lobbying on just-announced changes to the leasehold system.

It is no secret that she would like a return to cabinet, and equally that Starmer would welcome this. While a slightly unlikely duo, they remain in touch and on good terms, according to senior Downing Street sources, and there is a shared view that they are an effective political team, despite some residual mistrust on Rayner’s side about some of those around the PM.