There is growing speculation Angela Rayner is poised to challenge Keir Starmer, according to the Daily Mail. Angela Rayner last week used a speech in a Westminster pub to set out an apparent Labour leadership pitch. Her intervention sparked fresh claims she is 'on manoeuvres' and could launch a bid to replace Keir Starmer as Prime Minister following May's local elections, with Labour expected to perform poorly in those contests. Angela Rayner warned Labour is 'running out of time' to deliver change and cannot 'go through the motions in the face of decline'.
Angela Rayner has been warned that Brits continue to hold a 'negative' view of her, the Daily Mail reports. A leading pollster has told Angela Rayner she still faces a challenge in winning over voters following her tax row last year. Luke Tryl, UK director of More In Common, said recent focus groups revealed the public verdict on Angela Rayner was 'fairly negative'. More In Common polling from last month found nearly half (48%) of voters thought it would be 'unacceptable' for Angela Rayner to return to the Government. Previous research by More In Common in January showed Angela Rayner's net favourability among voters was -35, with only 14% holding a positive view of her. Angela Rayner was less popular among voters than other leading Labour figures such as Ed Miliband, Shabana Mahmood, Wes Streeting, Lucy Powell, and Andy Burnham, and only Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves were more unpopular than Angela Rayner according to the January poll. Luke Tryl said it was 'clear' that people in Westminster had 'moved on more quickly' than the general public from Angela Rayner's tax row.
Angela Rayner quit as housing secretary, deputy PM and Labour deputy leader in September 2023, and tearfully admitted she failed to pay correct stamp duty on a new flat.