Is Angela Rayner Being Groomed to Take Over from Keir Starmer as UK Prime Minister?
Flaming well hope not.
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Though the role of Deputy Prime Minister sounds impressive, it is effectively a non-role with no departmental responsibilities. In the past, every holder of this position has also held another specific ministerial brief. Previous Prime Ministers like Margaret Thatcher, John Major, and Tony Blair appointed Deputies who were assigned to important ministerial posts. For instance, Thatcher had Norman Tebbit as her Deputy Prime Minister, and Major had Kenneth Clarke. Even Tony Blair appointed John Prescott as his Deputy Prime Minister.
However, when a Prime Minister resigns or is forced out, the most likely successor is someone who has held one of the great offices of state, such as the role of Foreign Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer, or Home Secretary. For example, John Major became Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher stepped down, as he had previously served as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Chancellor of the Exchequer. Similarly, Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister after Tony Blair, since Brown had been Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Labour Party's current front bench includes several senior ministers who are likely to enter the race for the top job if either Keir Starmer or Angela Rayner stepping down. This has been the pattern in past transitions of leadership within the party. If Keir Starmer were to step down, one of these senior ministers would most likely step up to take on the mantle of leadership.
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That’s not how it works. She would be a temporary stand-in if something were to happen to him, but the Labour Party would hold a new leadership election. As they did when Keir Starmer was elected in 2020.
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No. This is impossible. Angela Rayner's education is limited, and her rise to the current position has been largely built on a single narrative that labels the Conservatives as 'scum.' While this narrative has proven effective so far, it is not going to be enough to make her a viable candidate to lead the country. Even with the current Labour Party in its current form, such an appointment would have a hundred percent chance of failure, in my view. Whether the Labour Party would be foolish enough to appoint her is a different question. However, it would be deranged to do so.