Who will replace Angela Rayner? Who are the likely candidates to become next Deputy Prime Minister - after Rayner resigns
Angela Rayner has resigned as deputy prime minister and housing secretary after admitting she did not pay enough stamp duty on her second home.
She has also quit as deputy leader of the Labour Party, an elected post. Sir Keir Starmer's second-in-command has stepped down after admitting she should have paid more stamp duty on a home she bought in Hove, East Sussex, as it was her second property.
News of her resignation came just moments after Sir Keir's spokesman revealed the prime minister had received a report on whether she had breached the ministerial code or not from his standards adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, after Ms Rayner referred herself to him earlier this week. The Deputy Prime Minister has faced mounting pressure to stand down over recent days after admitting she underpaid stamp duty on a flat she bought in Hove earlier this year.
Ms Rayner paid £40,000 less of the surcharge on the property than she should have, as she claimed it was her main home rather than a second home. After quitting her cabinet roles on Friday, she could become a powerful force on the Labour back benches.
But who could replace her? Listed below are likely candidates.
Wes Streeting - Deputy leader
The health secretary has long been tipped to want a tilt at the top job. He has defended Rayner this week and said it would be a “travesty” if she were to resign.
Shabana Mahmood - Justice secretary
The justice secretary has become one of Labour’s best performers and has a similar no-nonsense attitude to Rayner. She also comes from the right of the party.
Bridget Phillipson - Education secretary
Phillipson would be likely to have a shot at the job and is in the top five of most popular cabinet ministers among members. The education secretary has more of an appeal to the soft left of the party, and has spearheaded key reforms.
Ed Miliband - Energy secretary
The former Labour leader is arguably unlikely to run but would face calls to do so. He is consistently at the top of the popularity polls among members.
Matthew Pennycook - Housing secretary
A minister in Rayner’s department, Pennycook is known for his grip of his brief and is popular among colleagues. He could be a likely candidate.
Steve Reed - Environment secretary
He is one of the more low-profile characters in the cabinet but his experience in local government could put him in prime place for the communities job. Reed was previously Lambeth council leader, and turned around what was one of London’s worst-run boroughs.