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  "path": "/politics/angela-rayner-keir-starmers-health-secretary-role-snub",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-18T05:44:39.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Ms Rayner would return to the Cabinet",
    "\"long time\" in the making",
    "Angela Rayner urged to come clean on tax probe amid questions over how she was 'cleared'",
    "'A gift for Farage!' Labour's reverse Brexit row sparks bitter spat between Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting",
    "'I'll be standing!' Wes Streeting confirms he will challenge Keir Starmer for Labour leadership",
    "Lisa Nandy",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAngela Rayner snubbed Sir Keir Starmer's bid to hand her the role of Health Secretary, it has emerged.\n\nThe Prime Minister reached out to his former deputy about replacing Wes Streeting, but she made clear she was not interested in the role, according to The Times.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMs Rayner was contacted by No10 on Thursday after Mr Streeting left the Government with a resignation letter which set the stage for a potential leadership challenge.\n\nEarlier that day, Ms Rayner had announced she had been cleared of tax affairs with HMRC after a dispute over £40,000 of unpaid stamp duty.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nSir Keir had repeatedly said he hoped Ms Rayner would return to the Cabinet.\n\nBut a Government source told The Times Ms Rayner was clear she was not interested in a return to frontline politics.\n\nThe two did not speak directly at any point, it is understood.\n\nJames Murray would be appointed as Health Secretary nearly eight hours after Mr Streeting left Government.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMs Rayner has not ruled out a leadership bid herself, and has been an ally and friend of Andy Burnham, having supporter his bid for Labour leadership in 2015.\n\nShe criticised the Government for not allowing the Greater Manchester Mayor to run in the Gorton and Denton by-election, which was won by the Green Party's Hannah Spencer.\n\nJosh Simons stood down as Labour MP for Makerfield, allowing Mr Burnham to contest the seat.\n\nThe move by Mr Simons had been a \"long time\" in the making, with talks dating back to last summer, according to the Sun on Sunday.\n\n### THE LABOUR LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE - READ MORE:\n\n\n\n\n  * Angela Rayner urged to come clean on tax probe amid questions over how she was 'cleared'\n  * 'A gift for Farage!' Labour's reverse Brexit row sparks bitter spat between Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting\n  * 'I'll be standing!' Wes Streeting confirms he will challenge Keir Starmer for Labour leadership\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIt remains unclear if Sir Keir would himself contest a leadership challenge, if one is raised.\n\nLisa Nandy, Culture Secretary, said it was entirely up the Prime Minister whether to stand in a leadership contest.\n\nShe told the BBC: \"It's a very personal decision for him.\n\n\"I haven't spoken to him this weekend but I've spoken to him several times over the last week and obviously he's shown before that he's up for a fight.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nBut a series of senior Cabinet ministers including Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, are said to have advised him to set out a timetable for his departure.\n\nSir Keir is understood to be seriously considering his departure, with one member of the cabinet saying the Prime Minister wants to resign in a \"****dignified way\", the Mail on Sunday reported.\n\nMs Rayner has said that under Sir Keir, Labour was in danger of becoming a \"party of the well-off\" instead of supporting working people.\n\nShe also said Sir Keir had fostered a \"toxic culture of cronyism\", naming the appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the US.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Angela Rayner snubbed Keir Starmer’s bid to hand her Health Secretary role"
}