Angela Rayner cleared of tax misconduct by HMRC - but 'won't make a deal'

Angela Rayner has said in interviews with the Guardian and ITV that she has been cleared of any tax misconduct by HMRC, paving the way for a potential leadership bid if Sir Keir Starmer were to resign. However, she told ITV that she will not make a pact with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “I’m not doing deals or anything like that,” she said. It's a rare bit of good news for the PM who faces another day of questions over his future as Wes Streeting mulls whether to mount a challenge for the premiership. The Health Secretary is believed to have told allies he is preparing to resign today and announce a bid for the top job after Labour descended into open division at the start of the week. Efforts to lever Starmer out of Downing Street appeared to stall on Wednesday, with no further ministerial resignations or backbench calls for his resignation as Westminster turned its attention to the King’s Speech. But the morning saw Labour’s trade union backers pull their support for Sir Keir, while Mr Streeting’s team failed to deny claims he was poised to quit. If he mounts a challenge, Mr Streeting will need the support of 81 Labour MPs to begin a formal contest. While some 87 MPs have so far publicly called for Sir Keir’s resignation, they are not united behind a single candidate to replace him. Other figures regarded as potential challengers include former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, Energy Secretary and former party leader Ed Miliband and armed forces minister Al Carns. In an article for The New Statesman published today, former Royal Marines officer Mr Carns said: “We do not need more slogans, strategies, press releases or commissions. We need action.” Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has questioned whether any of the Prime Minister’s rivals can muster the necessary support to launch a contest. Sir Keir himself is expected to fight any leadership challenge, and spent Wednesday afternoon meeting ministers and Labour MPs as he sought to avert a coup. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .