Angela Rayner has made a clear bid for a prominent leadership position within a potential Andy Burnham administration, while simultaneously advocating for the continuation of substantial government spending on welfare benefits.

Speaking at the Social Mobility Symposium on Tuesday, Rayner, who previously served as deputy prime minister, emphasized her belief that individuals receiving benefits are not "lazy people on the dole." Her remarks signal the potential pressures a future prime minister might face regarding spending priorities, particularly in light of defense budget considerations.

Rayner, who left her ministerial role following a tax-related issue, is reportedly being considered for a significant position under Burnham. During her speech, she highlighted her track record on devolution and social housing, stating that she had secured £39 billion for social housing during her time in government and would do so again. She also indicated that similar arguments apply to welfare spending, pushing back against the idea of reducing support for claimants.

"You hear arguments for taking away people's support," Rayner said. "Families are told to pull themselves up from their bootstraps. It's no fun to be going to a food bank to feed your children when you're in work. It's no fun to have your wages topped up because you're not earning a real living wage. These are not lazy people on the dole, they're working families who can't keep up."

Rayner drew on her personal experience as a teenage single mother who left school without qualifications, eventually becoming a Cabinet minister. She noted the importance of council housing in her own life, stating, "The one thing that we always had when we was growing up was our council house. No matter what happened to us, no one could take our home away from us."

Social housing is anticipated to be a central theme in Burnham's potential government agenda. He has previously expressed a desire for "the biggest programme of council house building since the Second World War," which could potentially be funded by redirecting the existing £39 billion affordable housing program entirely to social rent homes.

Rayner also defended controversial worker's rights laws and praised the party's decision to lift the two-child benefit cap, urging the Labour party to "have the courage to say that those are our values and we stand by them."

Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately criticized Rayner's stance, stating, "It doesn't matter who is in charge of Labour it is always their instinct to spend more and tax more, especially when it comes to benefits, and yet when it comes to protecting our country, the kitty is empty."

Whately added, "Now Keir Starmer has finally called time on his dreadful premiership, Labour have the chance to changes course. Sadly, if Angela Rayner's intent is anything to go by Labour will keep a ballooning benefits bill while our armed forces go underfunded."