Angela Rayner’s secret Cabinet plans exposed | Politics | News

Former housing secretary Angela Rayner, who resigned after breaking the ministerial code over tax affairs, is widely seen as a potential leadership candidate for Sir Keir Starmer. In his first public reaction to Labour’s disastrous election performance, Rayner said the party was wrong to prevent Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from becoming an MP earlier this year.

The Daily Express can exclusively reveal what Rayner’s plan could be after he calls out Burnham. In the Daily Expresso podcast, Deputy Express Editor JJ Anisiobi said he had been told by some Lords last week that Rayner was genuinely trying to gain support but intended not to make that clear.

He explained: “I was told that Rayner didn’t want Starmer and his friends to think that he was actively trying to rally support in a cabinet, but he was out there a lot and trying to rally people in support so he could be swept away.

“He will dismiss most of the cabinet members currently there and join his own team for his new team.”

He added: “We have met directly with five, six to seven people who will be in this new cabinet.

“And the way he called out Andy Burnham in his speech today leads me to believe that this is all true, that he has a deal with Burnham and that when he takes action against Starmer, Burnham will come into play again.

“I don’t know how they’re going to do it, but I believe Burnham will be there with him.”

In a statement, Rayner did not endorse the Greater Manchester mayor as a leadership candidate, but said it was a “mistake” for the party to block him from standing in by-elections in Gorton and Denton in February.

Rayner and Burnham, as well as Health Secretary Wes Streeting, are thought to be the main potential rivals to challenge Sir Keir’s leadership.

For a leadership contest against the prime minister to be triggered, his opponent must be nominated by at least 20 per cent of Labor MPs, meaning there are currently 81 MPs.

If the Labor leader resigns, a contest will automatically be launched to replace him.