Angela Rayner tipped for political comeback as Andy Burnham’s Health secretary after tax scandal

It has been claimed that Angela Rayner will make a political comeback as Andy Burnham’s new Health Secretary.

Rayner, who resigned as Deputy Prime Minister after it was revealed he could not pay £40,000 in stamp duty, is said to be a frontrunner for a senior cabinet role.

Burnham was elected unopposed as leader of the Labor Party yesterday and will be handed the keys to No 10 when Sir Keir Starmer officially resigns as Prime Minister on Monday.

The former Mayor of Greater Manchester is expected to unveil plans for a policy blitz, with social care reforms expected to be one of the key issues.

Rayner, himself a former care worker, will be tasked with overhauling England’s social care system. It has been reported that £18bn has been allocated to help set up a national care service.

Meanwhile, Baroness Casey of Blackstock is currently leading a review of the social care system that could form the backbone of Rayner’s reforms.

The review was due to be published in 2028 but Burnham is understood to have asked Baroness Casey to deliver the recommendations by the end of the year.

The House of Lords member signaled to MPs last week that he would be willing to speed up the review.

Rayner, himself a former care worker, will be tasked with overhauling England’s social care system. £18bn reportedly earmarked to help set up national care service

To talk Daily TelegraphA source said Rayner had been ‘lined up’ to lead the overhaul of care from Burnham’s inner circle.

Rayner’s return to government will mark one of the most remarkable political comebacks in recent memory after he resigned from the government following an investigation that found he had wrongly breached the ministerial code by failing to seek appropriate tax advice.

Burnham has remained tight-lipped about what her cabinet will look like, insisting only that it will ‘reflect all sections of our party’.

There were intense claims that current Energy Minister Ed Miliband would be the new Chancellor.

However, Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood emerged as a last-place candidate for the top job this week.

Elsewhere in the cabinet, MPs including Jonathan Reynolds and Louise Haigh are expected to return to government.

Reynolds could be reappointed as Trade Minister, while former Transport Minister Haigh has also been tipped to become Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Burnham may have two Milibands in her cabinet, and rumors may be circulating in Westminster that David Miliband could make a dramatic return to government as Foreign Secretary.

Andy Burnham delivers his first speech as Labor leader. He has remained tight-lipped about what his cabinet will look like, insisting only that it will ‘reflect all sections of our party’.

Shabana Mahmood hugs Andy Burnham. Current Home Secretary is last in line to become Chancellor

Rumors swirl in Westminster that David Miliband could make a dramatic return to government as Foreign Secretary

David, who was Foreign Secretary during the New Labor years, was the favorite to replace Labor leader Gordon Brown following the party’s defeat at the 2010 election before being replaced in the top job by his younger brother Ed.

He was in London last week and gave a speech pledging support for Burnham’s plans for greater devolution.

For a quick return to government, Burnham could bring David into the House of Lords in a move similar to Rishi Sunak bringing in Lord Cameron as Foreign Secretary.

Key Burnham ally Anneliese Midgley from the 2024 intake is expected to become chief whip.

Economist Miatta Fahnbulleh, who was one of the first members of Starmer’s government to call on him to resign after Labour’s disastrous local election results, could become secretary of state in the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Burnham’s full cabinet will be announced on Monday.