Rayner vows to continue fighting 'Tory cronyism' in new Labour roles

Date published: 10 May 2021


Ashton and Failsworth MP Angela Rayner has vowed to continue 'taking the fight to the Tories' after her roles within the Labour Party were switched during a hectic weekend of national politics.

After a massively disappointing set of results for Labour in the English local elections last Thursday, Ms Rayner, the MP for Ashton and Failsworth, was initially sacked as Labour Party chair and national campaign co-ordinator by Sir Kier Starmer.

However, following a weekend shuffle of the shadow cabinet by the party leader, Ms Rayner's roles are now Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (which she already held), Shadow First Secretary of State, Shadow Chancellor to the Duchy of Lancaster, where she will take on Michael Gove, and Shadow Secretary of State for the Future of Work. 

Ms Rayner said: “I came into 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 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.”

Elsewhere in Sir Kier Starmer's reshuffle, Rachael Reeves has been moved into the role of Shadow Chancellor, replacing Anneliese Dodds, who was given the job of party chair.

Manchester MP Lucy Powell enters the shadow cabinet with the housing brief, while Thangam Debbonaire replaces Valerie Vaz as shadow leader of the Commons.


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