Angela Rayner has been reappointed to the cabinet, returning to government following a period of controversy surrounding her tax affairs. The appointment comes as speculation continues about the future leadership of the Labour Party.
Rayner faced scrutiny over the tax arrangements on her family home in Greater Manchester, which led to her admitting she should have paid a higher rate of stamp duty. This resulted in her resignation from her government role after the prime minister's ethics adviser concluded she had breached the ministerial code. The investigation by HMRC, which began nearly 10 months ago, concluded with Rayner settling £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty.
Rayner stated she had been "exonerated" of accusations that she had "deliberately sought to avoid tax." During her time as deputy prime minister, she was a key figure in advocating for Labour's pledge to construct 1.5 million homes by 2030 and played a role in managing internal party dissent regarding welfare cuts.
In a recent interview, Rayner did not dismiss the possibility of running for Labour leadership should a vacancy arise, but she indicated she would not initiate such a contest. When questioned about the current leader's position, she remarked, "Keir will have to reflect on that."
Prior to his own leadership challenges, Sir Keir Starmer had previously expressed confidence in Rayner, highlighting her "best social mobility story this country has ever seen" and suggesting she could be brought back into his cabinet. Her return to the cabinet under Andy Burnham signifies a new direction for the party, with Rayner aiming to continue her political trajectory.