One of the most lavish tributes to Angela Rayner after her overdue resignation from the Cabinet came from the uber-ambitious Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
‘Angela Rayner has achieved more in the last year than most politicians achieve in a lifetime – a trailblazer for working-class kids from backgrounds like ours,’ Wes, who grew up in a single-parent family council flat in London‘s East End, gushed on X.
Music to the ears of the trade unions, who, of course, adore Rayner. When the time comes, they will have a big say on who will be the next Labour leader – a fact that can’t have escaped Streeting, who is currently the bookies’ favourite.
However, his support for Rayner was less conspicuous during Prime Minister’s Questions last week.
One of the most lavish tributes to Angela Rayner after her overdue resignation from the Cabinet came from the uber-ambitious Health Secretary Wes Streeting, writes Andrew Pierce
The Health Secretary chose not to join her on the frontbench in a public act of solidarity, instead finding a discreet spot by the Speaker’s Chair to observe proceedings.
He then sidled out after ten minutes, presumably to attend to his ambitions.
Morgan’s chutzpah is without peer
Watch out Keir, Nigel and Kemi, there’s another stellar name eyeing up No10.
‘I love New York,’ said TV loud-mouth Piers Morgan in a new podcast. ‘I always stay at The Carlyle Hotel [which] gave me a monogrammed pillowcase recently with ‘PM’ in gold lettering for my 25th stay. PM for PM!
‘Somebody said, ‘What a slogan!’ We’ve had Boris Johnson so, let’s be honest, it couldn’t be a lot worse, could it?’ Err, yes it could.
Prediction of the week: In his first email to supporters as the newly minted leader of the Greens, Zack Polanski – who has defended the right of ‘poor people’ to shoplift – failed to mention climate change. Or the environment. He preferred to bang on about the ‘dangers’ of Reform. I see trouble ahead for the eco mob.
- President Trump has got the measure of Lord Mandelson – dubbed the high priest of the dark art of political spin. In Mandy’s role as ambassador to the US, I’m told The Donald has nicknamed the silken mandarin ‘Sneaky Pete’. Enough said.
- Former Tory MP-turned-writer Gyles Brandreth recalls a recent trip to the Caribbean with his wife Michele. ‘Standing on the beach in Jamaica I saw a little bent old lady coming towards us. Then we realised it was Mick Jagger.’
Rayner’s debt – to Mrs T!
Angela Rayner wrote in her resignation letter: ‘I would never have become deputy Prime Minister if not for the decisions taken by the last Labour government’
Rayner wrote in her resignation letter: ‘I would never have become deputy Prime Minister if not for the decisions taken by the last Labour government, giving me a council house to support me.’
What she failed to mention was that is was under Margaret Thatcher’s Right to Buy scheme – a benefit Rayner set about largely demolishing – that she was able to buy the house at a 25 per cent discount, which turned into a tax-free profit of £48,500 when she sold it.
Idea of the week: Jeremy Corbyn’s as-yet-unnamed political outfit has a new member: his brother, and inveterate conspiracy theorist, Piers. He says: ‘I think it’s a great idea. I have joined it. I last spoke to Jeremy a few days ago. It was about family matters but I was also urging him with his new party to campaign for the banning of vaccines and digital identities.’ Just what Jezza doesn’t need.
