Keir Starmer says 'hugely talented' Angela Rayner will return to cabinet

Keir Starmer's Bet on Rayner: Will Labour's Deputy PM Return to Cabinet?

Labour leader Keir Starmer has hinted that his former deputy, Angela Rayner, will soon be back in the cabinet. Starmer called Rayner "hugely talented" and expressed disappointment over her resignation as housing secretary after she was found to have breached the ministerial code on stamp duty payments.

In a candid interview with The Observer, Starmer praised Rayner's journey from leaving school at 16 without qualifications to becoming deputy prime minister. He described her story as "the best social mobility story this country has ever seen," acknowledging that her departure from government was a personal loss for him and the party.

The PM made his stance on Rayner's potential return to cabinet unequivocal, stating that she would undoubtedly be back in the fray. While Starmer previously expressed hope for her return in a September letter, the current situation is complicated by the breach of ministerial code.

Rayner has kept a low profile since leaving government and was expected to push an amendment to the workers' rights bill she championed in office. However, conversations with Business Secretary Peter Kyle led her to drop the plan.

Starmer's optimism about Rayner's return suggests he is willing to forgive past mistakes if they contribute to Labour's success in upcoming elections. His words also suggest that he believes his deputy faces ongoing misogyny and abuse as a high-profile woman in politics.

The timing of Rayner's potential comeback remains uncertain, but Starmer's confidence in her abilities could signal a renewed push for her return to cabinet.

OMG, I think this is so cool ! Keir Starmer giving Angela Rayner another chance? I mean, we've all been there where we make mistakes and then face consequences, but it looks like Labour's leader is willing to give his former deputy a second shot . I'm all about giving people chances to learn from their errors and grow, especially when it comes to women in politics . And let's be real, Rayner's journey is seriously inspiring - from not having qualifications to becoming Deputy PM? That's some serious hustle . Fingers crossed she gets back into the cabinet soon!

I feel so bad for Angela Rayner, she was like super passionate about the workers' rights bill and I totally get why she wanted to push it through . I think Keir Starmer is being really supportive of her too, it's good that he's willing to give her another chance . At the same time, the whole thing with the stamp duty payments is pretty serious, I don't know if people are going to forget about that so easily . I mean, as a student who's always trying to do the right thing in school, it's hard not to think about what Rayner did and how she can make it right .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole Rayner situation... like, she was so close to being back in the game and now it's all up in the air again . But you know what's wild? Keir Starmer is giving her a second chance just because he wants Labour to win elections . I get it, he needs his top team together, but can't they just hold people accountable for their actions instead of sweeping it under the rug?

I mean, Rayner was found to have breached the ministerial code and now she's expected to just waltz back into cabinet like nothing happened . I'm all for giving people a second chance, but you gotta draw some kind of line in the sand. It feels like Labour is more concerned with winning power than actually doing what's right .

On the other hand, I do think Rayner's story is pretty inspiring - from leaving school at 16 to becoming Deputy PM . She's got talent and she's passionate about social mobility, so I'm all for giving her a shot again . Maybe this is just what Labour needs - a fresh perspective with some real-world experience .

But can they really make it work? The timing of Rayner's potential comeback is super uncertain right now . We'll have to wait and see if Starmer's optimism pays off or if everything falls apart again

omg i feel like starmer is being super generous here he's basically saying that anyone who makes mistakes can just come back and be deputy pm again...like what if she messes up again? i mean don't get me wrong, rayner has been through a lot and her story is actually really inspiring, but starmer needs to think about the bigger picture here. he's basically putting his party's reputation on the line for one person. and what about the other ppl who are gonna be like "wait whats going on with rayners position?" anyway i guess we'll just have to wait and see if starmer's gamble pays off

Rayners back gotta say though starmer is being super lenient if ur thinkin she did somethin wrong on stamp duty payments and now shes just gonna waltz back in like nothin ever happened also theres all this nonsense about her bein a high-profile woman in politics lol like what s he not see the sexism & abuse shes facin

Rayners time is comin she was doin some good things as housing sec and now its all cos of that stamp duty drama dont get me wrong starmer is tryna give her another chance but what about the rest of us who didnt have a "best social mobility story" gotta earn that spot in cabinet not just 'cos ur famous or talented, gotta prove yurself

Rayner's back in the picture - nice, just what we needed more drama in the Labour party. I mean, who wouldn't want to watch their deputy PM make another high-profile exit and then come crawling back? It's like a bad soap opera, but with actual policy decisions on the line.

And let's be real, Keir Starmer is basically saying "I'll forgive her because she's a strong woman" . I'm not buying it. If Labour wants to win the next election, they need to get their act together and stop coddling underperforming MPs. Rayner's story is admirable, but her track record in office isn't exactly inspiring.

Still, you have to give Starmer credit - he's consistent. First, he promotes her as deputy PM, then she resigns, and now he's talking about bringing her back. It's like a game of political musical chairs, except instead of music, it's all just bitter disappointment .

I think Keir Starmer is trying to send a good message by keeping the door open for Angela Rayner's return to cabinet . It's great that he's acknowledging her past mistakes and expressing hope for her comeback, especially since she was such an important part of Labour's team. I mean, who wouldn't want to see her back in the game? But at the same time, it's also about timing - we've got these upcoming elections, and they need all hands on deck if they wanna win. It's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out!