Damage to Labour from Rayner's resignation is only just beginning

"At 9.30am on Monday morning, as MPs made their way back to Westminster, Keir Starmer gathered the entire staff of No 10 in the Pillared Room of Downing Street to tell them they were about to enter the next, delivery, stage of government. We go into phase two in good spirits, confident and with conviction, he told them, as some of those gathered shuffled awkwardly. His remarks, after all, followed a difficult summer during which Labour vacated the pitch to Reform UK and ahead of what is likely to be an even more turbulent autumn. Angela Rayner resigns Today in Focus Extra With Starmer desperately needing to show he could get a grip on government, the rest of his big reset week could not have gone more badly."

"In interviews, Rayner often described Starmer as the yin to my yang, explaining how the odd couple of British politics may not have run on a joint ticket for leader and deputy, but they were so complementary they might as well have done. She was everything that Starmer is not. Politically intuitive. A powerful communicator. An authentic working-class voice. Savage Reform attack dog. Popular with MPs, members and unions. Party fixer. Despite a sometimes bumpy relationship, Rayner's absence will be keenly felt."

Keir Starmer convened No 10 staff to announce a move into a 'delivery' phase of government, expressing confidence and conviction. The announcement followed a difficult summer in which Labour ceded ground to Reform UK and faced prospects of a turbulent autumn. Angela Rayner resigned as deputy after a breach related to stamp duty, removing a politically intuitive and popular figure who complemented Starmer. The resignation represents a major blow to the government and undermines efforts to show accountability. Starmer has maintained a stance of no special treatment for ministers who commit serious rule breaches.

Read at www.theguardian.com