Angela Rayner's next move is clear: Labour's first woman PM |
Yesterday, Keir Starmer was forced into yet another embarrassing U-turn by his backbenchers. Parliament called for the release of documents relating to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador following more revelations about his relationship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
This is not what the Government wanted – Starmer insisted he would not publish anything that could damage national security or diplomatic relations. But MPs did not trust that categorisation would not be abused to prevent uncomfortable truths coming to light. Instead the independent Intelligence & Security Committee (ISC) will decide what is publishable.
Credited with tipping the balance to force this change of stance was the former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, who, in a stateswomanlike intervention, pointed out that Labour had made the same case for the ISC in opposition when forcing the then Tory government to publish documents.
Now that Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been blocked from returning to Parliament, Rayner is seen by many as the centre-left’s only practical hope of stopping a [Health Secretary] Wes Streeting succession.
Speaking to Labour insiders and MPs on the left and centre-left, there are........