Even though Angela Rayner stepped down from the Cabinet in disgrace, her influence seems impossible to shake.
The former Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Labour Leader is casting a long shadow over this year’s Liverpool party conference, reminding delegates that her presence is still felt even in absence.
Party Scrambles to Erase Her Presence
Labour officials moved quickly to pull this year’s glossy conference brochure, fearing it could highlight Rayner’s contributions just weeks after her dramatic exit.
The 45-year-old was forced out earlier this month following revelations that she failed to pay £40,000 in stamp duty on a luxury Hove flat she claimed as her main residence.
Investigations by Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser, confirmed she had breached the ministerial code.
In a move reminiscent of old propaganda tactics, party aides tried to “airbrush” Rayner from their official literature.
Yet, despite their best efforts, one copy of the banned guide has survived, giving a rare glimpse of what Labour delegates were originally meant to see.
Rayner’s Words from the Banned Guide
In the brochure, under the headline “Welcome to Conference,” Rayner spoke as Deputy Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, writing with a blend of pride and pragmatism.
She acknowledged Labour’s first-year challenges: “No one can wave a magic wand and bring change overnight.”
Even more strikingly, she emphasized unity, promising: “This week, we will show how Labour is working together to bring national renewal.”
The irony is unmistakable: a leader so publicly sidelined was once urging collaboration and cohesion.
Surviving copies of the brochure are already rare, with rumors of party activists considering auctions on eBay.
The Online Brochure Replacement
Eventually, the conference brochure was published online, with Rayner’s pages replaced by listings for events hosted by Labour Together, a centre-left think tank.
However, this substitution has sparked its own controversies.
Labour Together became embroiled in scandal after Keir Starmer and his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, failed to declare £740,000 in donations during Starmer’s 2020 leadership campaign.
The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is reportedly considering an investigation into whether Starmer breached MPs’ code of conduct.
Brochure Errors Add to the Chaos
The rushed revisions also led to mistakes in the published guide. The timetable, now on page 11, still incorrectly shows page 13.
It even promises a speech from the “Deputy Leader of the Labour Party,” despite the fact that Rayner’s replacement has not yet been chosen.
A senior Labour MP voiced concerns about the brochure’s continued circulation: “Ange is very popular, but her talk of ‘Labour values’ will be played back at us over the tax issues.
And replacing her with a guide that highlights Labour Together may not help at all.”
Rayner Still Commands Applause
Although Rayner skipped the Liverpool conference, her presence was felt when her successor as Housing Secretary, Steve Reed, mentioned her during a speech.
The resulting cheer and applause made it clear: Angela Rayner remains a formidable force within the party, a fiery figure who continues to capture both affection and attention.