Angela Rayner still has a key role to play in Labour despite fears her star has waned since Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster, allies said last night.
They insisted that the so-called ‘Red Queen’ would still land a major job in ‘King of the North’ Mr Burnham’s new Cabinet.
But other Labour MPs privately told The Mail on Sunday that discussion of Ms Rayner, who just a few weeks ago talked of herself as a future leader, had virtually ceased since Mr Burnham’s by-election victory.
They also pointed to reports Mr Burnham, who now looks set to become Prime Minister within weeks, was still smarting over how his secret meeting with Ms Rayner at her constituency house was leaked within days of it taking place.
One senior backbencher told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It’s as if the Red Queen has been eclipsed by the King of the North. MPs have just stopped talking about what Angie’s going to do.
‘No one mentions her all. She’s gone from being the future saviour to hardly any profile – it’s all rather odd.’
Another said: ‘Angie has gone from centre stage to bystander.’
Angela Rayner is reportedly still in the line for a big job under the Burnham reign
One senior backbencher told The Mail on Sunday: ‘She’s gone from being the future saviour to hardly any profile’
Sources close to the Ashton- under-Lyne MP dismissed talk of her recent low profile, highlighting her speech last week to insist that benefits claimants were not ‘lazy people on the dole’.
Ms Rayner, who was forced to quit the Cabinet last year after a tax scandal, also made what was seen as a pitch for a top job under Mr Burnham by talking up her credentials on devolution and social housing.
The sources also pointed out that she joined Mr Burnham for the campaign launch of Bev Craig, the Labour candidate picked for the Greater Manchester mayoralty now vacant because Mr Burnham is once more an MP.
The sources also denied that her meeting with Mr Burnham was leaked, insisting that he was ‘opportunistically papped’ as he waited outside her house.
However, they declined to discuss what role Ms Rayner might get in the new Cabinet.
A spokesman for Mr Burnham also declined to comment.
