The sequence of departures of ministers in disgrace during Labour’s first year had already undermined Starmer’s promise to be the “change” from what had come before. Now his deputy’s departure has fuelled the cynicism of those inclined to think “they are all the same – in it for themselves”.
After a rocky start in opposition, Rayner was a loyal deputy and troubleshooter for the PM. But she remained his biggest threat. She was the person constitutionally and politically best placed to step into his shoes if he were to be removed. Now she is gone – and there is no other obvious challenger out there.
In shock, the Labour Party may still make a sentimental choice by electing a deputy leader from the left. If so, the leader can disregard them as Harold Wilson once did George Brown; or as Jeremy Corbyn shrugged off Tom Watson. John Prescott and Margaret Beckett found out that their best course of action was to support the leader.
square KITTY DONALDSON Careless Rayner had no choice – Starmer is on the back foot yet again
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This sad affair plays well to the former director of public prosecutions. It burnishes his image as the lawyer who deliberates and then acts ruthlessly when required. After all the painfully lingering political deaths of the Tory years, Kemi Badenoch’s claims that Starmer “dithered” will miss the target, once again.
In due course, that may not be good news for the embattled Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves. Even before this disaster, the Prime Minister had begun to wrestle back control. Plans for big tax rises have lost their most powerful advocate.
Not all “working people” were so relaxed about Rayner’s louche image. Even before her fall, a good number seemed to share Nigel Farage’s suggestion that her behaviour “screams of entitlement”.
Labour parliamentarians will almost certainly rise up if confronted with an economically realistic budget, or moves back to the New Labour agenda on immigration and ID cards. The Prime Minister can confront them with a hard choice: vote me down and there will be an early general election – and not many Labour MPs will come back from that.
Of course, Starmer may not have the vision, the courage (or even the inclination) to not let this crisis go to waste. But if he grasps this moment, he could yet save himself, his Government – and perhaps even the country.
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