Rayner's ‘leaving’ speech gives backbenchers a glimmer of hope

The chamber had been almost empty at the start of the ministerial statement on Heathrow airport.

- John Crace

But by the end, the Labour benches were nearly full. Though this was nothing to do with the pull of the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander. It was Angela Rayner who was the main attraction.

The former housing secretary hadn’t been seen since her resignation in early September. Not in the Commons, nor in Liverpool for the party conference. Better late than never, she was now back to make a personal statement. The leaving speech that would herald her return. She had been missed.

This was no great feat of oratory. Rayner had come neither to bury nor to praise. Merely to be herself. But it was still a moment, nonetheless. A time for Labour MPs to reflect on what they had lost. And what they might have again in the not so distant future.