Should Starmer be watching his back over Rayner's rise?

After a year in office, and somewhat against expectations, Angela Rayner has emerged as the undisputed “second among equals” in the cabinet, in fact as well as in name.

- SEAN O'GRADY

Soon she will augment her political base with a dedicated Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, which will sit atop her existing ministerial duties, her wide-reaching role in government, and her party position as deputy leader.

Some wonder what might come next.

How did this happen?

Partly through the errors of others; partly through her own gifts. The thing that really demonstrated her influence, and why the future of the government critically relies on her, was her role in the retreat from the welfare bill fiasco. That was also when the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, previously long thought of as the “real” deputy prime minister, had any remaining ambitions smashed by the parliamentary party - and by the botched way in which she and Liz Kendall handled the reforms.

The bill’s humiliating failure was also another stumble by Keir Starmer. Instead, at the last minute, it was Rayner who finally sorted out the rebels, and saved the administration from an even worse mauling. Aside from that, she has shone at Prime Minister’s Questions, developed an apparently chummy relationship with the King, and presented herself as a more plausible, “authentic” and forceful foil to Nigel Farage.

Weren’t Keir and Ange ever friends?