Angela Rayner ‘on manoeuvres’ for leadership challenge as Labour descends into chaos, Telegraph reports

Angela Rayner is quietly paving the way for a leadership bid against Keir Starmer, according to claims reported by The Telegraph, as Labour reels from an extraordinary week of briefing wars, market jitters and collapsing poll ratings.

The paper reports that the former deputy prime minister has been sounding out MPs and even offering potential Cabinet roles in exchange for future backing.

One source described her as “on manoeuvres” and “getting her ducks in a row,” adding, “The unions will back her and help her.”

Rayner has also aligned herself with Tribune, the soft Left grouping whose organisers led the rebellion over welfare policy. Senior figures say it is heading towards 100 members, potentially the largest bloc of Labour backbenchers, and could become a ready made launchpad for a leadership contender.

Rayner resigned in September after the Telegraph revealed she had failed to pay £40,000 in stamp duty on a flat purchase in Hove. Her allies nevertheless insist she is poised for a political comeback, with many on Labour’s Left preferring her to rivals such as Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

Labour turmoil as MPs openly question Starmer’s future

The claims come at the end of what one Labour MP called a “complete shambles” of a week for the Government.

Downing Street’s attempt to stamp out rumours of a coup spectacularly misfired as allies of Starmer briefed against alleged plotters, only for Mr Streeting to publicly denounce No 10 as “toxic” and “juvenile”. The Prime Minister was then forced into an inquiry and an apology to his own Health Secretary.

Meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves triggered fury among MPs and turbulence on the markets after rowing back on plans for an income tax rise. She is now expected to ditch the two child benefit cap in an attempt to placate the Left.

One MP summed up the mood, “The leadership of the party is in complete disarray. If they had three feet they’d have shot all three.”

Another said a significant section of the parliamentary party had “lost confidence” in the Government, adding there was constant chatter about what to do “if there is a leadership election”.

A Cabinet figure warned, “There is a lot of volatility at the moment, it could go one of many different directions… Nobody appreciates a divided party that faffs around with its leadership.”

Calls for Starmer to go as polls hit historic lows

On Friday night, Clive Lewis became the first Labour MP to break ranks, urging Starmer to quit, telling Channel 4 News the situation was “not tenable, frankly” and that “I just don’t see how this can stagger on without any resolution on the horizon.” He suggested senior Labour grandees should make Andy Burnham prime minister. Despite the outburst, he kept the whip.

Fresh polling shared with The Telegraph suggests Labour is now at 18 per cent, its lowest standing since the 2008 to 2009 financial crisis, while Reform UK leads on 33 per cent. Starmer’s satisfaction ratings are the worst of any prime minister since 1977, and Reeves’s ratings the lowest for a chancellor since 1976.

Eight in ten voters believe the country is getting worse as a place to live.

Rayner distances herself publicly, but urges action on child poverty

In her first interview since resigning, Rayner warned the recent infighting made Labour look “arrogant”. Speaking during a constituency visit, she told the Daily Mirror, “Being around here for the last hour just shows you that tittle tattle in Westminster almost looks arrogant when you’ve got real challenges that real people are facing.”

She said Labour had delivered “good material things” but pressed the leadership to scrap the two child benefit cap, calling child poverty “evil” that must be challenged.

A spokesperson for Rayner reiterated, “Amidst all the stirring and silly games, Angela is focused on representing her local community and ensuring that the priorities she championed in Government are delivered in full.”

Downing Street declined to comment.