Angela Rayner’s statement in full on Starmer’s failure and Labour’s ‘need to change’
Angela Rayner criticized Keir Starmer’s Labour government after its historic local election defeat, calling it a ‘last chance’ to change direction and accusing the party of failing working-class voters. She highlighted issues like stagnant living standards, corporate profits, and policy failures like the blocked Andy Burnham candidacy as evidence of Labour’s drift from its core values.
Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner delivered a sharp critique of Keir Starmer’s government following its worst local election results in decades. She framed the defeat as a final warning, stating the party must ‘change’ or risk losing its identity as the ‘party of working people.’ Rayner pointed to stagnant wages, soaring living costs, and record oil and gas profits as key failures, arguing voters have turned to populist alternatives due to Labour’s perceived inaction. The statement condemned the party’s handling of economic inequality, citing policies like the winter fuel allowance cuts and the Peter Mandelson scandal as evidence of a ‘toxic culture of cronyism.’ Rayner argued that decades of deregulation and privatization have concentrated wealth at the top, leaving ordinary Britons struggling. She contrasted Labour’s approach with successful models in Spain and Canada, where social democratic policies have delivered growth and prosperity for all. Rayner called for urgent action to cut household costs, including higher taxes on corporations benefiting from the cost-of-living crisis. She proposed expanding employment rights, raising the minimum wage, and accelerating affordable housing construction to revive the economy. The statement also criticized Labour’s decision to block Andy Burnham’s candidacy in the Gorton and Denton by-election, calling it a ‘mistake’ that alienated key supporters. The intervention comes as Starmer faces mounting pressure, with speculation growing over a potential leadership challenge. Rayner’s resignation as deputy prime minister last year and her public remarks have fueled debates about her future role in the party. The statement underscored Labour’s internal divisions, with Rayner warning that the party risks becoming ‘a party of the well-off’ if it fails to address working-class concerns before the next general election.
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