But in Rayner’s case, Starmer was busy defending her over the way she handled the row about her stamp duty bill on Monday – even though he knew she was still waiting for legal advice – and then again in the chamber on Wednesday.
What’s striking about the way the Prime Minister has been so effusive about Rayner is that they are not best chums. The ups and downs of their working relationship are well-known: Starmer once failed to sack Rayner, ending up giving her even more jobs. She has at times been openly critical of him, and even more frequently made jokes about her own leadership ambitions. So why the loyalty from Starmer now?
square VICKY SPRATT Why Labour (and renters) need Rayner's 'argy-bargy' style
Read More
This will have had huge sway with Starmer: to understand the Prime Minister, you really need to appreciate how important family is to him. He is also particularly emotionally charged about the privacy of politicians’ children (including his own), and colleagues say he is at his most effusive and human when discussing family privately with them.
On the backbenches but still as deputy leader – an elected position from which Starmer cannot remove her, even if he does sack her as a minister – she might well pose a serious threat. Someone who represents the true Labour Party against a Government that is frequently criticised for not being left-wing enough.
However, it is not quite as straightforward as having Rayner inside the tent but more reliant on her leader. A quiet, less authoritative Rayner might make life a bit easier in the short term for Starmer, but she is also a huge asset for Labour’s attempts to fight Reform.
square HUGO GYE Rachel Reeves's silence is costing us - literally
Read More
If Rayner is damaged long-term by this scandal, then Labour suffers too. And chances are that whatever the outcome of the ethics investigation into the advice she received on the stamp duty bill, she is already damaged.
The snippets of Rayner’s case that they pick up will reinforce their view that there is one rule for the political class, and another for everyone else – even though Starmer has been trying to argue that his party is very different.
Rayner isn’t the only solution to that problem, but this blow to her political power hurts her party as well as her personal standing. It’s a blow Labour can’t afford at the moment.
Isabel Hardman is assistant editor of The Spectator magazine.
Hence then, the article about why keir starmer really wants to save angela rayner was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Why Keir Starmer really wants to save Angela Rayner )
Also on site :