Angela Rayner’s attempt to distance herself from Project Starmer opens the door for a run to replace him
S.Angela Rayner largely kept her criticism of the government to herself after she was forced to resign as deputy prime minister.
But he let it rip Tuesday night. In a jaw-dropping speech to Labor activists from the left-wing Mainstream group, he warned that the party was beginning to be seen as representing “the establishment, not working people” and called for an urgent change of course, adding that it was “running out of time” to appeal to voters.
In fact, Ms Rayner was firing the starting gun in the race to replace Sir Keir Starmer, whose beleaguered premiership has been in limbo for months.
Ever since hopes of allowing Andy Burnham to return to parliament and become leader were dashed, Ms Rayner has essentially been the figure silently and ominously in the background waiting to strike.
It is somewhat ironic that it was the Greater Manchester mayor’s own Mainstream group that provided Ms Rayner with the opportunity to set up her own stall in Keir’s place.
As Labor braces for devastating results from May’s local and devolved elections, there appears to be no way back for Sir Keir, whose authority has been virtually destroyed by the Peter Mandelson scandal.
The former deputy leader had originally planned to make the speech two days before the Gorton and Denton byelection, in which Labor came a humiliating third in the seventh seat, but “didn’t want to be blamed for the defeat”, according to one ally.
But Tuesday night’s speech was important for Ms Rayner because she had to do two things to be considered a reasonable alternative to Sir Keir.
The first was to deal with the tax issue that forced him to resign, even though it was understood that he was close to a solution.
But last night’s speech touched on another issue, perhaps more damaging for Labor members.
Internal polling by his supporters showed his reputation had also been damaged by the Starmer project.
It has been associated with attempted welfare cuts, the party’s new hardline stance on immigration, its failure to become more critical of Israel, and the delay in ending the two-child benefit cap.
Although he has opposed these things behind the scenes, Starmer has not threatened to resign over any of these issues that have wreaked havoc on his premiership.
Instead he was seen as an accomplice.
It was important for Ms Rayner to epitomize who she is rather than being part of the Starmer project, or before that the Jeremy Corbyn project.
An ally told Independent: “Labour members need to see the real Angela Rayner.”
This is exactly what they are getting by calling for a more tolerant immigration system and a different approach to the economy.
He had already distinguished himself from the Mandelson debacle by siding with the Conservative Party, pushing for the release of documents relating to his wrongful appointment as ambassador to the United States. Also, through IndependentHe made it clear that he was unhappy about the removal of his right to a jury trial.
He had previously made a speech about the damage Rachel Reeves had caused to the hospitality industry.
Ms. Rayner is showing us, in small steps, what a premiership under her leadership would look like.
It now looks like only a miracle will save Sir Keir from sacking, but while Ms Rayner has fired the starting gun, the path to her replacement is not entirely clear.
Rivals such as Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Energy Minister Ed Miliband may have their own designs on leadership.
But Ms Rayner assured a contest to replace Sir Keir would likely take place in May.
