Earlier this year, Angela Rayner was considering whether to seek the Labour leadership if Sir Keir Starmer's position came under challenge. The conclusion of an HMRC investigation into her tax affairs, long seen as an obstacle to any leadership bid, removed a major barrier to the former deputy prime minister taking part in any contest to replace her old boss.
In the end, however, she added her name to the wave of Labour MPs nominating Andy Burnham as leader, helping propel the former Greater Manchester mayor into Downing Street uncontested. She has now returned to the cabinet, with Burnham restoring her to the role of housing secretary, from which she resigned in September last year after admitting she did not pay enough tax on the purchase of a new home.
Rayner is set to play a key role in Burnham's drive to devolve power away from Westminster and deliver a major programme of council house building. Her against-the-odds story, personality and ability to connect with voters other politicians have struggled to reach are expected to make her a prominent voice within Burnham's top team.
What shaped Angela Rayner's early life?
Born Angela Bowen in Stockport, Greater Manchester, in 1980, Rayner grew up on one of the area's poorest council estates and from an early age was caring for her mother, who had bipolar disorder and suffered from depression. Both of Rayner's parents were unemployed, and in 2017 she recalled having to grow up very quickly.
My mum was a really vulnerable person. I remember, at 10, my mum being suicidal and me sleeping like a dog on the end of her bed, just to try and stay next to her so she didn't do any harm to herself
She has also recalled going to her grandmother's flat on Sundays so the family could take it in turns to have a bath there, because hot water was too expensive for them to use at home.
Rayner has often spoken about being told she would
