Angela Rayner could soon be talking herself into Keir Starmer’s job (Image: Getty)
She’s spoken movingly about growing up on benefits, with a mother who couldn’t read or write, and once brought dog food home thinking it was stewing steak.
Every Labour politician plays up their working-class roots, but most of them fake it. Keir Starmer’s endless blather about being the “son of a toolmaker” fools nobody. Turns out his father owned the factory. Rachel Reeves once claimed she knew what it was like to struggle at the end of the month. At the time, her combined household income topped £300,000.
In contrast to Reeves, Angela Rayner is good with money. She’s done well enough to afford a luxury £800,000 seaside flat in Hove. And fund what must be quite hefty travel costs, given that it’s 250 miles away from her constituency. Settling the £40,000 stamp duty bill proved beyond her though. Can’t think why.
The tax scandal put a dent in her political ambitions, forcing her to step aside while HMRC investigates. But she’s been using her time wisely. And lucratively.
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According to a report in The Times, Rayner believes the tax investigation is nearing its end and has been cashing in on speculation that she could be heading for Number 10. In the past, Rayner has said she gets abuse for the way she speaks.
But it turns out plenty are willing to pay to hear her talk today. Since stepping back, she’s earned more than £100,000 giving speeches to City investors, consultants and estate agents. Not bad for a few turns at the microphone.
That’s on top of the £17,000 golden handshake Rayner got for quitting. She also secured a hefty advance for her memoirs, due later this year. The money is rolling in. And we all know why people are paying up. They think she’s our next PM. Paying that stamp duty bill and any HMRC fine should be a breeze now.
There’s nothing wrong with earning an honest crust. As long as the tax gets paid. It’s certainly more admirable than Starmer’s approach, which largely involves grabbing any passing freebie. Coincidentally, they also totalled around £100,000. He’s also secured himself a remarkably generous pension deal that almost nobody else gets. You pay for that.
Labour has declared war on enterprise since taking office. Yet its senior figures highly enterprising themselves. There’s also something striking about Rayner pushing for higher taxes on everyone else, while appearing so adept at minimising her own. The HMRC investigation will decide that. She sounds confident. And that’s terrible news for Starmer.
If she emerges unscathed, the PM will find himself facing a fully funded, fully charged Angela Rayner. Unlike him, she has instinct, authenticity and the gift of the gab. More importantly, she has the backing of Labour’s left.
If the upcoming May elections turn into a Labour rout, as many expect, she’ll make her move. And she may well talk herself into Number 10. She’ll have to give up the speaking gigs, but the Prime Minister’s £166,786 salary will soften the blow.
As for Starmer, stepping down could prove expensive. Still, there’s always the after-dinner circuit. Although it’s hard to imagine who’d pay to hear him speak. Perhaps he could tell them about being the son of a toolmaker.