Angela Rayner has resigned from the Government and as deputy leader of the Labour Party, after failing to pay £40,000 stamp duty on her flat in Hove, East Sussex.
But, how much damage has this done to Starmer’s government? The i Paper experts give their verdict.
Angela Rayner’s departure will have major ramifications for a Labour Government which, it’s fair to say, has found it difficult to step into power since winning the election last year. Unfortunately for Sir Keir Starmer, Rayner headed up one of the few functional government departments: the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). She has brokered major deals with the Treasury to secure funding for affordable social housebuilding and steered the contentious Renters’ Rights and Planning and Infrastructure Bills through Parliament. Hers are big shoes to fill, and few politicians, on any side of the political divide, have her ability to bring people – whether that’s landlords, renters, backbench MPs or Labour party members – together in difficult times.
Read Next
square ALISON PHILLIPSRead More
An obvious replacement for Rayner over at MHCLG would be the Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook. He is a competent minister who has overseen those challenging pieces of legislation rigorously since Labour took office. Widely regarded in Westminster as a rising star, Pennycook prefers not to make a fuss and get on with the job.
The problem for Number 10, however, is that Rayner did the politics so Pennycook could do the policy. That’s why everything worked so well at MHCLG. That’s why, unlike the Tories, Labour were able to get things done when it came to housing. Without Rayner, Pennycook would be pulled in multiple directions as a Secretary of State. But, in reality, there is no other credible replacement for her.Vicky Spratt is The i Paper’s Housing Correspondent
Hugo Gye: ‘Voters will not be impressed’
The departure of Angela Rayner means the Government risks spending the next few months embroiled in a nasty Labour row.
The number one thing Sir Keir Starmer needs is a period of calm where ministers can put their heads down and get on with their jobs. A deputy leadership election will blow that out of the water.
Many in Labour are unhappy with the Prime Minister’s performance and will look to use the contest to force him into a change of direction – pushing him to the left.
That could, of course, end up benefiting the Government eventually. If you believe that its current trajectory is the main one, then an overhaul will be a good thing.
But in the shorter run, voters will not be impressed by a fresh round of navel-gazing. Nor will taking friendly fire help Starmer prove he is the strong leader that Britain needs. The chaos continues.Hugo Gye is The i Paper’s political editor
First a confession: I like Angela Rayner. I worked with her for several years and found her to be a passionate campaigner, punchy, funny, and driven.
The last few weeks must have been traumatic as her personal life has been exposed to public scrutiny over the complexities of her divorce and financial arrangements for her disabled son.
The intrusion into her family life has elicited sympathy across the political spectrum – from Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey to backbench Conservatives and her Labour colleagues. Even the Independent Adviser on Minister’s Interests Sir Laurie Magnus, who found she had breached the ministerial code, believed she had acted with integrity.
Read Next
square KITTY DONALDSONRead More
Politically, her legacy will be that she drove through key legislation that will improve working class people’s lives: the Employment Rights Bill, the Renters Reform Bill and English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.
Her departure from Government further unbalances an increasingly narrow Cabinet drawn almost exclusively now from the Labour right – which has made serious misjudgements on Gaza, winter fuel payments, disability benefits, and how to respond to the rise of Reform.
Those failures will be at the forefront of Labour members’ minds as they elect a new deputy leader. Outside of Westminster, trade unions and activists want a shift in approach – and that will shape the upcoming deputy leadership election.Andrew Fisher served as the Labour Party’s executive director of policy under Jeremy Corbyn between 2015 and 2019. He is a columnist at The i Paper
Kitty Donaldson: ‘This is yet another blow to Starmer’
Keir Starmer, who had expended significant political capital in protecting his deputy, was eventually forced to let her go. Her supporters said it was a political witch-hunt against a working-class woman who made good. Her detractors said it was simply a matter of hypocrisy.
She couldn’t remain as No 2 in a government that’s examining raising taxes on homeowners and as lead minister on housing. The public had got there before Magnus was even handed in his report. In the end Starmer had no choice.
The woman who was regarded as such an asset to the party because of her straight-talking authenticity had to go. It’s yet another blow to Starmer who has made repeated efforts to get on the front foot.
Kitty Donaldson is The i Paper’s Chief Political Commentator
Hence then, the article about how damaged is starmer s government by rayner the i paper experts verdicts 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 ( How damaged is Starmer’s Government by Rayner? The i Paper experts’ verdicts )
Also on site :
- Union boss ‘held up Communist flag alongside people singing pro-Russia chants in occupied Ukraine’
- Large house fire near Buckeye Lake kills one, critically injures second victim
- Regained momentum sets Yemen government’s eyes on Houthis in the north