Angela Rayner issues four-word challenge as Keir Starmer fights for his political life | Politics | News
Angela Rayner has told MPs she is “ready” to make a leadership bid as pressure continues to mount on Sir Keir Starmer over the attempted “cover-up” of Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US Ambassador. The former Deputy Prime Minister has led a rebellion against Downing Street’s attempt to control the publication of potentially explosive documents about Lord Mandelson’s investigation after his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was revealed this week.
The government backed down and handed control over to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee to decide what should be made public following Wednesday’s setback. While a handful of Labor figures have publicly called on the Prime Minister to consider his own position, Ms Rayner has reportedly gone a step further and signaled she is ready to launch a leadership bid.
Ms Rayner told a fellow MP that “I will be ready” to serve if the Prime Minister resigns following the crash landing. Daily Mail reports.
A spokesman for Ms Rayner told the PA News Agency: “We do not recognize these allegations.”
While backbenchers have reportedly signaled willingness to support Ms. Rayner in a potential leadership bid, any such initiative could be hampered by her ongoing tax affairs.
He is yet to pay £40,000 of the evaded tax and additional fines imposed by the UK official tax collector.
Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: “The Labor leadership contest could be around the corner and he could be one of Starmer’s most likely successors because the Prime Minister is still under investigation for tax evasion even while doing his job.
“The public deserves the full truth about their representatives, especially those maneuvering to run the country. We must see the full results of HMRC’s investigation as soon as possible.”
Police are investigating allegations that Lord Mandelson passed sensitive market information to Epstein while serving as business secretary after the 2008 financial crisis.
In a speech on Thursday, the Prime Minister said “none of us knew the depths of darkness” of Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein when he was appointed US Ambassador last year, and insisted he shared his colleagues’ “anger and disappointment” over the saga.
