Keir Starmer is scrambling for ways to survive the impending elections meltdown today – with claims he has offered Angela Rayner a comeback deal.
The PM managed to stave off a bid to trigger a standards probe over whether he lied to Parliament about the Mandelson scandal last night.
But his premiership remains on life support, with allies fearing a trouncing in council, Scottish and Welsh polls next Thursday could send MPs over the edge.
Sir Keir has repeatedly insisted he wants to see Ms Rayner back on the political front line after she had to resign last year over unpaid stamp duty.
Speculation has been swirling at Westminster that he could pull the trigger on a reshuffle as early as the weekend after the elections.
However, it is not clear whether the former deputy PM is minded to agree to rejoin Sir Keir’s team.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed, a close ally of the premier, fuelled the rumours this morning by heaping praise on Ms Rayner.
Keir Starmer is scrambling for ways to survive the impending elections meltdown today – with claims he has offered Angela Rayner a comeback deal
Sir Keir has repeatedly insisted he wants to see Ms Rayner back on the political front line after she had to resign last year over unpaid stamp duty (pictured together in 2024)
‘I love Angela Rayner. She’s a very, very close friend. We’ve been friends for years, and I’m looking forward to seeing her this weekend, having a nice dinner and a good catch up,’ he told GB News.
Mr Reed also seemed to hint that Ms Rayner’s wrangling with HMRC could be on the verge of being settled.
‘I think Angela has spoken for herself over that. That’s being reviewed even as we speak and we’ll hear where that goes after as well,’ he said.
‘But Angela is a great asset for the Labour Party, I think she has an ability to communicate that few other politicians have. She’s one of the people that you know is a big character. People know who she is, but she’s also a really good friend, and I’m looking forward to seeing her.’
The saving grace for the PM up to now has been that none of his rivals are in a position to strike.
Many MPs favour Andy Burnham as a successor, but he is outside of the Commons after Sir Keir blocked him from standing in the Gorton & Denton by-election.
According to the Telegraph, Sir Keir floated the prospect of Ms Rayner rejoining the Cabinet during a private discussion when they visited a school in Greater Manchester on April 13.
The PM has been left fighting to quell dissent in his ranks after dozens of MPs defied his threats to back a standards probe into the Mandelson scandal.
Sir Keir must decide whether to punish 14 MPs who voted for a privileges committee inquiry into whether he lied to Parliament.
The official division list showed 14 Labour MPs defied Sir Keir to back the motion. Cat Smith voted both for and against the motion, which is often called an ‘active abstention’
Sir Keir is said to have floated the prospect of Ms Rayner rejoining the Cabinet during a private discussion when they visited a school in Greater Manchester on April 13 (pictured)
Up to 50 more look to have broken a three-line whip on opposing the motion last night – something that would normally lead to disciplinary action.
However, Sir Keir’s position is so weak that it is unclear whether he will be able to enforce the dire threats made before the vote.
Labour’s huge majority means that the probe was comfortably blocked despite the revolt. Kemi Badenoch said it was a ‘cover-up’ to protect the premier with a local elections drubbing looming next week.
Sir Keir himself did not show his face in the chamber yesterday, although he did vote.
