Angela Rayner: A Remarkable Ascent in British Politics

Angela Rayner’s rise to prominence in British politics is an inspiring story of determination and resilience. Hailing from humble beginnings as a former care worker who faced adversity, she is now poised to become a key figure in the government if the Labour Party wins the next general election.

Rayner’s life took an unexpected turn when she became a mother at the tender age of 16. With no formal qualifications and discouragement from her school that she wouldn’t achieve much, she was undeterred. Her journey from these challenging circumstances to her current position as shadow deputy prime minister under the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer is nothing short of remarkable.

In a recent reshuffle of the Labour Party’s top leadership, Angela Rayner was appointed as the shadow deputy prime minister. She also assumed a significant domestic policy portfolio, including responsibilities related to “levelling-up,” communities, and housing. Importantly, she retains her role as Labour’s deputy leader, where she will continue to lead the party’s efforts on a “new deal for working people.” It’s worth noting that the deputy leader of the Labour Party is elected by party members, giving Rayner a degree of independence from Sir Keir.

Angela Rayner is renowned for her straightforward and candid communication style. As a working-class woman from the north of England who did not attend university, she possesses a unique ability to connect with segments of the electorate that previous Labour leaders, closely tied to London, might struggle to reach.

Her journey hasn’t been without challenges, and relations between her and Sir Keir have occasionally been strained. After a series of electoral setbacks, including losing control of English councils and the Hartlepool by-election in May 2021, Rayner was relieved of her duties as party chair. However, she rebounded, taking on new roles as shadow first secretary of state, shadow Cabinet Office minister, and spokesperson for the party on the future of work.

Angela Rayner’s early life in Stockport, Greater Manchester, was marked by adversity. She grew up in one of the area’s most impoverished council estates, where she cared for her mother, who battled bipolar disorder and depression. Both of her parents were unemployed, and she had to shoulder responsibilities beyond her years, even trying to prevent her mother from self-harm at a young age.

Rayner’s journey towards her current position was marked by determination. After giving birth to her first child at 16, she pursued part-time education, learning British sign language and gaining a vocational qualification in social care. She spent several years as a care worker, primarily caring for elderly individuals in their homes while actively advancing within the Unison union. Her assertiveness in dealing with management earned her a reputation for being unyielding.

In 2010, she married Mark Rayner, a Unison official, and they have three sons together. At 37, she became a grandmother, affectionately referring to herself as “Grangela” and popularizing the hashtag. By this time, she was already an MP and held the position of shadow education secretary. She won her parliamentary seat in Ashton-under-Lyne in 2015, making history as its first female MP in 183 years.

Angela Rayner’s career in politics accelerated quickly. She held roles as an opposition whip, shadow pensions minister, and, under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, she joined the shadow cabinet, with responsibilities encompassing women and equalities and education. In the realm of education, she championed funding for early childhood education and advocated for a national education service modeled after the NHS, driven by her personal experience of feeling left behind.

Rayner has described herself as a socialist but also identifies with the “soft left” within the Labour Party. She voted for Andy Burnham in the 2015 Labour leadership election and was critical of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. Notably, she shared a flat with fellow northern Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey and sat alongside her in the shadow cabinet. When the leadership contest ensued following Corbyn’s resignation, they chose not to contest against each other. Angela Rayner secured the deputy leader role, while Long-Bailey ran for leadership but was defeated by Sir Keir.

Rayner’s stance on law and order is notably firm, shaped by her experiences of witnessing anti-social behavior during her upbringing. She once remarked that police should “shoot terrorists and ask questions second.” She also holds an interesting perspective on wealth, expressing that she doesn’t mind individuals becoming wealthy, as long as they pay their taxes, echoing sentiments made by former cabinet minister Lord Mandelson.

As for Brexit, Angela Rayner campaigned for and voted to remain in the EU during the 2016 referendum. However, she later opposed Labour’s shift to a policy of holding a second referendum, arguing that it would “undermine democracy.”

Despite her success, Angela Rayner has had to contend with online abuse, a common plight for prominent women in politics. In 2019, due to death threats, panic alarms were installed at her family home. In October 2021, she faced criticism for referring to senior Conservatives as “a bunch of scum” at a Labour conference event, a comment she later “unreservedly” apologized for. She attributed her remarks to the increasingly toxic nature of political discourse and committed to more careful language in the future.

In April 2022, she was at the center of controversy when a claim was made that she attempted to distract Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the Commons by crossing and uncrossing her legs. This claim was widely criticized, and the prime minister condemned the “misogyny directed at her anonymously.” Rayner dismissed the report as a “perverted smear,” highlighting the ongoing challenges that women in politics face when it comes to misogyny.

Angela Rayner’s journey in British politics is not only remarkable but serves as an inspiration for many. Her rise from adversity to leadership within the Labour Party illustrates the power of determination and resilience.