Angela Rayner: Never!

The Deputy Labour Leader has seen it all. She lived on benefits, in a council house, and was a single mother. So, unlike other career MPs, Ms. Rayner has lived a life most of us can recognise. So Angela can understand what it is to struggle when you are at the bottom of the pile, so to speak.

However, today it is fair to say she would certainly not be classed as working class. She still speaks with that Mancunian accent. She has that defiance that fellow Mancunian Liam Gallagher has shown when up against the deputy leader of the Conservatives, Alex Burghart. Although officially, the Tories do not have a deputy leader. Mr. Burghart is Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. However, when Kemi Badenoch is not available, Mr. Burghart stands in for her. And despite the rather posh schoolboy machinations of Mr. Burghart, who reminds one of a grown-up Harry Potter, Angela, with her Manchester grit, has held her own.

Angela Rayner has been tipped as the next leader of the Labour Party. However, when asked directly by Sky News's Trevor Phillips about leading the Labour she said she was quite happy being deputy prime minister. Mr. Phillips asked Ms. Rayner to say "Never" would she ever be Labour leader, she replied "Never"!

Angela has supporters in the Labour Party, MPs, members of the party, and members of the general pubic, will this revelation come as a shock? For some, yes, especially as many see her as a future leader once Keir Starmer's reign ends. Others who know her personally, whether colleagues, family, or friends, will not be surprised. How will her constituents feel about this revelation? Some will be disappointed, while others probably already know. As long as Angela remains a good MP for the area and is doing her job as Deputy Prime Minister, her constituents are happy.

Did Sir Keir know that she harbours no ambition to replace him? Maybe he does know, but it's not his place to break cover or break that trust she has put in him to leak that knowledge.

Trevor Phillips asked Angela about the u-turn, as the Tories call it, on winter fuel payments for the elderly. She said she was "hoping" for a winter fuel update within weeks. When cuts to winter fuel payments were announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, there was shock and uproar. Many who voted Labour saw it as a betrayal. The same as cuts to welfare. Many did not see these things coming. People voted Labour to end Tory cuts. And for Labour to turn round and make cuts themselves was a sheer shock for many!

People, and indeed Labour MPs and other MPs from other parties, have called on Labour to think again. Sir Keir said, "No, we are sticking to the script", end of. However, something has happened within the internal workings of government. Sir Keir appeared to announce he would reverse the winter fuel payments. Hence, Angela Rayner said to Trevor Phillips there will be an "update" in weeks. Some say that at a fiscal event on 11 June, the update will be given then.

Will Sir Keir also think again about the cuts to welfare? Many people who cannot work rely on their Universal Credit. Many who work also rely on Universal Credit to top up their salary. As prices increase in the shops, people are struggling to keep the lights on and put food on the table. So Sir Keir must look at this again, as he has or will do the cuts to winter fuel payments.

So will Angela Rayner regret saying "Never" to being Labour leader or Prime Minister? Or is she genuine in not wanting the top job as leader of the Labour Party? And not wanting to be the denizen of No Ten? Only she knows her mind, or does she?