New Labour frontbench roles for MP Rayner

Ashton and Failsworth MP Angela Rayner has been given new roles on the frontbench of the Labour Party.

She was sacked by leader Sir Keir Starmer as party chair and campaigns co-ordinator on Saturday, in the wake of the party’s dismal election results in England. 

Ms Rayner remains deputy leader of the party, as it’s an elected position voted for by members, as well as Shadow First Secretary of State. 

Amid a reshuffle of the Shadow Cabinet by Starmer announced late on Sunday evening, Ms Rayner will become Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - shadowing Michael Gove in the Cabinet Office. 

She will also be Shadow Secretary of State for the Future of Work, which is understood to focus on “levelling up” among other things. 

Meanwhile, Rachel Reeves has been appointed as shadow chancellor, replacing Anneliese Dodds, who will replace Ms Rayner as party chair. 

Rayner’s fellow Greater Manchester MP Lucy Powell, who represents Manchester Central, has been promoted to the shadow cabinet with the housing brief.

MP for Birmingham Ladywood, Shabana Mahmood, will take on Ms Rayner's other former role as campaign coordinator. 

'United we stand, divided we fall' 

Breaking her silence since the polls closed, Ms Rayner explained her new roles and said she will "work tirelessly to reform our party" - whilst also stating that "united we stand, divided we fall". 

She posted on her Facebook page: "I came in to politics as a shop steward standing up for care workers on the minimum wage.

"In my new roles I will focus on the future of work and the future of our economy, working with our trade union movement to deliver good, well-paid jobs in every region and every community.

"I will take the fight to the Tories on their dodgy contracts and sleaze. And I will set out Labour's policy to replace Tory cronyism and cash for mates with an insourcing revolution so that public services are delivered in the public interest, not for private profit.

"I will work tirelessly to reform our Party and deliver a policy agenda that will enable us to reconnect with the voters that we need to win, especially in our traditional heartlands, and show that the Labour Party speaks for the working class. That is our founding mission.

"I also want to thank friends from all across the Labour Party and our movement who have been in touch with me. United we stand, divided we fall. The past we inherit the future we build. Solidarity."

'Refreshed and renewed team can build ambitious programme to deliver next Labour government' 

In a statement announcing his reshuffle, Starmer said: “The Labour Party must be the party that embraces the demand for change across our country. That will require bold ideas and a relentless focus on the priorities of the British people. Just as the pandemic has changed what is possible and what is necessary, so Labour must change too.

“In the last 24 hours we have seen fantastic results for Labour Metro Mayors, as well as the Labour government in Wales under Mark Drakeford. They have shown the difference Labour can make in power, standing up for their communities.

“We have seen Labour begin to turn around its fortunes in Scotland under the leadership of Anas Sarwar. These results give us optimism and inspiration for the future. The challenge for us now is to build upon these successes and learn from the places we lost.

“I look forward to working with our refreshed and renewed team to take on that challenge, deliver that change and build the ambitious programme that will deliver the next Labour government.”

Starmer said he “took full responsibility” for the party’s poor election results but came under fire for his decision to sack Ms Rayner. 

Labour's Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham spoke out, tweeting: "I can't support this.” 

The party’s former shadow chancellor John McDonnell also said it was a "cowardly avoidance of responsibility" and accused Sir Keir of "scapegoating everyone apart from himself".

Thursday's votes, including council and mayoral elections in England, were Labour's first significant test since its crushing defeat at the 2019 general election under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.