Angela Rayner 'won't get involved' in race to choose successor as deputy leader

Angela Rayner will not get involved in the Labour deputy leadership election despite some candidates lobbying her for support, Sky News understands.

Sources close to the former deputy leader have told Sky News she will not organise behind the scenes for any particular candidate in the race to replace her.

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The contest kicked off after Ms Rayner was forced to resign from her three posts after admitting she did not pay enough tax on the purchase of a new home in Hove, East Sussex.

A report by Sir Laurie Magnus, Sir Keir's Starmer's independent ethics adviser, concluded that Ms Rayner, who was elected deputy leader in 2020, had breached the ministerial code by not seeking expert tax advice on whether she owed the higher rate of stamp duty that applies to additional properties.

A Labour source said Ms Rayner was likely to remain hands-off in the leadership race, given the nature of her departure from government.

"It's knocked the stuffing out of her," they said.

Her resignation meant Sir Keir had to carry out major reshuffle of his top team ahead of schedule and just weeks before Labour members gather in Liverpool for party conference.

Already, a wide variety of names have begun to emerge as potential successors.

They range from Ms Rayner's allies on the soft left - former transport secretary Louise Haigh, Luton MP Sarah Owen, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, and former Commons leader Lucy Powell - to serving Cabinet ministers, including Justice Secretary David Lammy, who succeeded her as deputy prime minister.

Other names that have been mentioned as potential candidates include housing minister Alison McGovern, former shadow minister and Tooting MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan and Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy.

Dame Emily Thornberry has also said she is considering standing in the contest, while Dawn Butler, the MP for Brent East, and Richard Burgon, the MP for Leeds East, are also reported to be interested in declaring their candidacies.

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The deputy leadership race is likely to open up divisions in the parliamentary party and within the wider leftwing movement that were smoothed over by Ms Rayner's presence at the heart of government.

Unions had regarded Ms Rayner - a former care worker and union representative at Unison - as their most vocal champion in government.

At the TUC conference in Brighton, union members and representatives raised concerns that Ms Rayner's absence could lead to a further watering down of the government's Employment Rights Bill - something ministers have offered repeated assurances will not happen.

The contest also threatens to become a damaging distraction for Sir Keir, whose government is lagging behind Reform UK on 20% of the vote - the lowest level since last year's general election.

What happens next?

On Monday, Labour's ruling body, the National Executive Committee, agreed a timetable for the deputy leadership election.

Candidate hustings will take place on Wednesday this week, and nominations from Labour MPs will close on 11 September.

Nominations from local Labour Party branches will then open on 13 September before closing two weeks later.

In addition to securing nominations from 80 Labour MPs, potential candidates must also have the support of 5% of constituency Labour parties (CLPs), or from three organisations affiliated to Labour - at least two of which much be trade unions.

The successful candidates will then appear on the ballot for a vote of all party members and affiliated party supporters, which will open on 8 October, and close on 23 October at 12pm.

The winner will be announced on 25 October.

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