"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 to nudge policy in areas she views as her legacies, notably by holding ministerial feet to the fire on workers' rights legislation, and through some lobbying on the just-announced reforms to the leasehold system."
"It is no secret that she would like a return to cabinet, and equally that Starmer would welcome this not least because the prime minister has said so publicly more than once. 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."
"It will, nonetheless, not happen immediately, and for two reasons. The most obvious is that there is currently no vacancy, and after Starmer reshuffled his cabinet so thoroughly in the wake of Rayner's departure, he is unlikely to create one soon, with the earliest date mooted so far being after May's Scottish, Welsh and local English elections. There is also the matter of an ongoing investigation into Rayner's tax underpayment by HMRC, which could result in a fine, a reprimand or no action at all."
The scuppering of Andy Burnham's return has focused attention on potential successors to Keir Starmer, bringing renewed scrutiny to Angela Rayner. Rayner resigned as a minister nearly five months ago over an inadvertent stamp duty underpayment and has been quietly loyal since. She has intermittently pushed policy on workers' rights and leasehold reform and wants a cabinet return. Starmer is said to welcome her back, and they remain on good terms despite some mistrust. A cabinet vacancy is unlikely until after May elections, and an HMRC investigation into the tax underpayment must conclude before any return.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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