Insiders claim Angela Rayner has her eyes on a safer seat in the south of England.
Labour insiders claim Angela Rayner has been looking for a safer seat (Image: Getty)
Angela Rayner has reportedly been looking for a safer Labour seat in the south of England to avoid losing to Reform UK at the next election and keep her leadership ambitions alive. Ms Rayner resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary in September after she was found to have breached the ministerial code by failing to pay the correct amount of stamp duty on a flat in Hove.
Insiders claim Ms Rayner has her eyes on replacing the town’s MP Peter Kyle, who would reportedly be persuaded to stand down in exchange for a set in the House of Lords, according to the Mail on Sunday. Mr Kyle secured a majority of 19,791 in Hove at the last general election, far above the 6,791 majority Ms Rayner gained in her Ashton-under-Lyne seat where Reform came second in July 2024.
Current polling suggests Ms Rayner would lose her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency to Reform UK at the next election, scuppering her apparent ambitions.
Ms Rayner reportedly also came close to buying a home in another safer Labour seat, Whitstable, which is currently represented by former Labour MP Rosie Duffield.
The former deputy leader has insisted previously that she will fight to keep hold of Ashton-under-Lyne at the next general election, which should be in 2029.
Other MPs tipped as potential challengers for the Labour leadership would find themselves in similar positions at the next election, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting whose majority was just 528 in July 2024 after a close run from Independent candidate Leanne Mohamad.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood might also be looking to jump ship to another constituency. She held on to her Birmingham Ladywood seat with a majority of 3,421, losing just over 40 percentage points on the 2019 election.
All three leading Labour figures have an advantage over Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, who would have to return to the Commons in order to mount a leadership challenge during this parliament.
Labour MP Clive Lewis this week said he would be willing to give up his Norwich South seat to allow the former Leigh MP to mount a leadership challenge.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer continues to bat off calls to quit, with Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome one of the latest Labour rebels to call for a new leader.
It comes after an extraordinary Labour briefing war over suggestions Mr Streeting was plotting to mount a coup.
The attacks on Mr Streeting were an alleged ploy to warn off potential leadership contenders, although Sir Keir has said he was assured they did not emanate from No 10.
Sir Keir has repeatedly dismissed talk of leadership challenges as “wasted” time and refrained from publicly reprimanding Mr Burnham for fuelling coup speculation.
