Left-wing Labour MPs Divided Over Angela Rayner's Leadership Prospects Amid Speculation
As of 12 December 2025, left-wing Labour MPs remain divided over whether Angela Rayner would lead a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer. Some believe Rayner could mobilize both MPs and Labour members if she triggered a leadership contest, while others argue her bid would lack public credibility following her resignation due to stamp duty and tax issues and perceived underperformance for the left during her time in government.
Keir Starmer has stated he would face down any leadership threat, and Rayner's allies maintain she has no plan to oust him. A leadership contest would require 80 MPs to back a candidate. Potential contenders discussed include Andy Burnham (currently not an MP), Wes Streeting, Shabana Mahmood, and Ed Miliband.
Rayner, former deputy Labour leader elected in 2020, is admired on the left for her working-class background but resigned after an ethics inquiry revealed she had not obtained proper tax advice regarding a Brighton flat; an HMRC investigation is ongoing.
In her roles as deputy Prime Minister and housing secretary, Rayner spearheaded the Employment Rights Bill and championed renters’ rights and leasehold reforms. She also influenced Starmer to water down welfare cuts. She has engaged with the revived soft-left Tribune group alongside Lucy Powell, Ed Miliband, and Lisa Nandy, describing the budget reception as a sea-change for the party.
Currently, there is no active leadership plot, but private concerns exist among MPs that Starmer’s leadership could become untenable if polling fails to improve.
