Deputy PM Angela Rayner rules out running for Labour leader - 'never'
Deputy PM Angela Rayner says it's the 'honour of my life' to be in her current role and delivering on housing and workers' rights is 'everything I could dream of'
Angela Rayner has ruled out running to be leader of the Labour Party as she hit back at speculation over her future.
The Deputy PM said it was the "honour of my life" to be in her current role and delivering on housing and workers' rights was "everything I could dream of".
Told there were people in the party who believed she had an "eye on the top job" one day, she told BBC: "I do not want to run for leader of the Labour Party." Asked to rule it out, she replied: "I rule it out. I'm absolutely focused on working with the PM and the Cabinet.
"This is the honour of my life. To do the job I'm doing, to represent my constituents in Ashton-under-Lyne and to finally have an opportunity to build the council houses we need, to put money in working people's pockets, and to support what we're doing through our Employment Bill, that's everything I could dream of."
She also told Sky News: "I don't want to be leader of the Labour Party - I'm very happy and honoured to be Deputy Prime Minister of this country. I've got a lot in my in-tray to prove I can do the job I'm doing and deliver on the milestones for the people of this country. I have no desire to go for the leadership of the Labour Party." Asked to say the word never, she replied: "Never."
The Deputy PM was asked by Sky News to dispel suggestions she may have been behind the leak of a memo to the Chancellor, in order to grow support for a future leadership bid.
In response, Ms Rayner denied leaking the document, which reportedly proposed to Rachel Reeves a host of taxes on wealthier people ahead of the Spring Statement in March. She added a leak inquiry was now underway.
According to the Telegraph, it was suggested by Ms Rayner's department the Treasury should increase tax rates paid on dividends and reinstate the pensions lifetime allowance. The allowance limited how much savers could put in their pension pot before incurring a higher tax charge and was abolished under the Tories.
Closing the commercial property stamp duty loophole and a higher corporation tax rate for banks was also proposed. The memo titled "alternative proposals for raising revenue" estimated eight changes could raise £3billion to £4billion a year. The proposals were not adopted by the Chancellor.
Ms Rayner said: "I think there's one [leak inquiry] under way, and quite rightly so, because leaks are very damaging. It's really damaging, because we have lots of sensitive conversations in the round, all of us, and then we make a collective decision."
The Deputy PM would not be drawn into saying whether she wanted to see taxes raised, as the memo suggested was needed.
She told Sky News: "As a matter of principle, I will continue to have those conversations with our Government on how we can bring down the cost of living for working people, support children out of poverty, build the houses we said we're going to do and protect our borders and security."
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