Angela Rayner’s political story has always been remarkable — from leaving school at 16 with no qualifications to becoming Britain’s deputy prime minister. But this week, that journey came to an abrupt end. Rayner resigned from government after admitting she underpaid tax on the sale of a home, a breach that Sir Keir Starmer’s ethics adviser said fell short of ministerial standards. The decision has shocked Westminster, not only because of her senior role but because she was one of Labour’s most effective voices, widely seen as a future leadership contender.
A Swift Fall from the Top
Rayner’s resignation removes her from three of her most powerful positions: deputy prime minister, housing secretary, and deputy leader of the Labour Party. The move came after ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus concluded that, while she had not acted dishonestly, she failed to uphold the “highest possible standards” expected of ministers. For Labour, the loss is significant. Rayner was seen as someone who could connect with voters often untouched by mainstream politics, giving her a reach and relatability rare in Westminster. Her sudden departure now leaves a gap in Starmer’s cabinet at a delicate moment in government.
Roots in Hardship
Born Angela Bowen in Stockport in 1980, Rayner grew up on a deprived council estate. Both parents were out of work, and her mother lived with bipolar disorder and depression. From a young age, Rayner acted as a carer. She has described nights spent sleeping on the end of her mother’s bed to keep her safe. Money was so tight that the family would use her grandmother’s flat just to have a hot bath. After becoming a mother herself at 16, she trained as a care worker, learning British Sign Language and working with elderly people in their homes.
Union Work and Political Rise
Her first steps into politics came through the trade union Unison, where she built a reputation as a fierce campaigner for fair pay and workers’ rights. By her twenties, she was a senior union official in north-west England, outspoken and unapologetically “mouthy,” as she once described herself. Encouraged by her union colleagues, she stood for Parliament in 2015 and won the Ashton-under-Lyne seat in Greater Manchester. She often joked that she had stood to prove people like her “couldn’t get elected” — only to prove herself wrong.
A Straight-Talking Style
Rayner’s career in Westminster was defined by her blunt, often unfiltered style. Under Jeremy Corbyn she held education and equalities briefs before being elected deputy leader in 2020. Her approach drew comparisons to John Prescott, Tony Blair’s former deputy, who acted as a link between Labour’s leadership and its working-class base. She became one of Labour’s most recognisable voices, lashing out at Conservative ministers during the pandemic and accusing them of “one rule for them and another for us.” At times, her language drew criticism, but her plain-speaking earned her respect from voters who valued honesty over polish.
The Turning Point
In government, Rayner played a central role in Labour’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes by 2030. Starmer often praised her as a “story of British success,” a symbol of aspiration for working-class families. But questions over her tax affairs, particularly as housing secretary, proved too damaging. Opponents accused her of hypocrisy, and despite the prime minister’s defence of her character, pressure mounted. When the ethics report confirmed she had breached the code, her resignation became inevitable.
What Comes Next
Rayner’s departure marks one of the most dramatic reversals in recent British politics. In just over a year, she had gone from being celebrated as Labour’s working-class champion to leaving government in controversy. For her supporters, the qualities that made her stand out — resilience, directness, and her life story — remain unchanged. Whether she rebuilds her career from the backbenches or fades from frontline politics is uncertain. What is clear is that Labour has lost a figure who spoke to people few other politicians could reach.
