Rayner’s return further damages Starmer’s leadership

If the prime minister had hoped for a rare quiet weekend, he had another think coming.

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The mooted income tax rise might be firmly off the agenda, and the sudden flurry of leadership speculation at least partially closed down, thanks to denials on the part of the supposed challenger, Wes Streeting, and a categorical no sackings pledge from Downing Street. But there on the front pages and eloquently back in the public square was none other than Angela Rayner.

It is probably fair to say that, despite his generous handwritten response to her resignation just over two months ago, Sir Keir Starmer had no expectation — or hope? — that his former deputy and housing secretary would be back in the political swim so soon, according to The Independent.

Ms Rayner’s absence from the front bench might have diminished the government in some ways, given her colourful character and her effectiveness as a parliamentary performer, but there were, or at least could have been, advantages for Sir Keir in terms of streamlining the government's message and silencing negative comparisons with his own communication skills.