Behind the scenes in Westminster, it’s not just policy that’s causing rifts—it’s culture, identity, and power.
Angela Rayner’s recent clash with No 10 and the Treasury isn’t just about taxes or welfare.
According to her allies, it’s about something much deeper: how Northern women are treated at the heart of government.
Sources close to Rayner say her fierce push for soak-the-rich economic measures and her growing public disagreements with leadership were sparked by what she sees as a condescending, even sexist attitude from senior Downing Street figures—especially those from London’s political bubble.
Rayner Feels Northern Women Are Being Sidelined
Rayner’s friends believe the tension runs beyond just her own experience.
They claim she’s watching out for others in Cabinet who, like her, come from outside the South-East elite.
In particular, they point to two other women: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who hails from Gateshead, and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who’s from Manchester.
Both have reportedly faced internal pressure and hostile briefings that threaten their roles in government.
One of Rayner’s allies put it bluntly: “What do they have in common? They’re Northern women.
Angela feels like she has to protect them. She’s the most senior Northern woman in the Cabinet, and she’s stepping up to show strength and solidarity.”
Lisa Nandy in the Crosshairs Over Left-Wing Stance
Lisa Nandy’s position has seemed particularly vulnerable in recent months.
Earlier this year, The Mail on Sunday revealed that she might be removed during the next reshuffle after criticism that she doesn’t dedicate enough time to her role.
One source in Downing Street claimed Nandy “works about two days a week” on her brief.
Now, there are whispers that the entire Culture Department could be scrapped altogether—a move that would end its 33-year run as a standalone department.
While it’s framed as a structural change, Rayner’s allies see it as more political than practical, with Nandy being targeted for her opposition to government welfare reforms.
They suspect Morgan McSweeney, No 10’s powerful chief of staff, has played a major role in pushing her out.
Bridget Phillipson Under Pressure Over School Reforms
Bridget Phillipson isn’t immune from the pressure either.
Downing Street insiders believe she mishandled aspects of her education brief—particularly her controversial plans to reform the academy school system.
These proposals have attracted significant resistance, and some within government now see her position as weakened.
But for Rayner and her supporters, this feels like another instance of a capable Northern woman being dismissed and undermined.
The pattern, they argue, is too clear to ignore.
Government Faces Criticism Over Its “Women Problem”
If both Nandy and Phillipson were pushed out in the next reshuffle, it wouldn’t just cause friction inside the Cabinet—it could also provoke a wider political backlash.
Critics would likely accuse the Government of having a “women problem,” particularly when it comes to high-profile female figures who don’t fit the traditional Westminster mould.
Angela Rayner seems increasingly determined to confront that perception head-on.
For her, this isn’t just about Cabinet politics or leadership jostling—it’s about identity, authenticity, and standing up for women who, like her, came from outside the elite corridors of power.