Angela Rayner is expected to continue playing a significant role in the Labour party, even as Andy Burnham prepares to form his new cabinet, according to her allies. Despite some internal party members privately expressing concerns that Rayner's influence has diminished since Burnham's return to Westminster, her supporters maintain she is still slated for a major position.
Reports suggest that some Labour MPs feel discussions about Rayner's future role have lessened since Burnham secured a by-election victory. There is also speculation that Burnham may still be unsettled by the leak of a private meeting between him and Rayner at her constituency home shortly after it occurred.
One senior backbencher anonymously told The Mail on Sunday that Rayner has transitioned from being seen as a potential future leader to a more peripheral figure, noting, "It's as if the Red Queen has been eclipsed by the King of the North. MPs have just stopped talking about what Angie's going to do. No one mentions her all. She's gone from being the future saviour to hardly any profile - it's all rather odd."
Another MP observed, "Angie has gone from centre stage to bystander."
However, sources close to the Ashton-under-Lyne MP have refuted claims of her diminished profile. They pointed to a recent speech where Rayner advocated for benefits claimants, emphasizing they are not "lazy people on the dole." Additionally, Rayner herself has highlighted her experience in devolution and social housing, which could be seen as a bid for a prominent role under Burnham.
These sources also noted Rayner's presence alongside Burnham at the campaign launch for Bev Craig, the Labour candidate for the Greater Manchester mayoralty, a position Burnham vacated to return to Parliament. Regarding the meeting that was reportedly leaked, her allies stated that Burnham was "opportunistically papped" as he waited outside her house, denying any intentional leak.
While Rayner's allies remain confident about her future cabinet position, they declined to specify what role she might take. A spokesperson for Burnham also declined to comment on the matter.