Angela Rayner
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Angela Rayner (née Bowen; born 28 March 1980) is a British politician who has served as Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities since July 2026. Previously, she served in the same role and as Deputy Prime Minister from July 2024 to September 2025 and as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 2020 to 2025. In opposition, she was formerly Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities from 2023. Rayner was first elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashton-under-Lyne in 2015, ideologically identifying as a socialist and as part of Labour's soft left.
Quotes
[edit]- I still like to be underestimated because it gives me an edge. It gives me a bit of stealth.
- While a Unison representative at Stockport council, as cited in "A working life: the union official", The Guardian (17 February 2012)
- On things like law and order I am quite hardline. I am like, shoot your terrorists and ask questions second.
- I want you to beat down the door of the criminals and sort them out and antagonise them. That’s what I say to my local police … three o’clock in the morning and antagonise them.
- Speaking on Matt Forde's Political Party podcast, as cited by Jessica Elgot in "Angela Rayner: police should 'shoot terrorists and ask questions second'", The Guardian (17 February 2022)
- Former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott tweeted in response: "Is Angela suggesting a mandatory death sentence for suspected (but not convicted) 'terrorists'?"
2026
[edit]- An impression has been left that the government "represented the establishment, not working people. At worst, we became it...the very survival of the Labour Party is at stake – as a party and a movement we cannot hide, we cannot go through the motions in the face of decline. We are running out of time.
- Quoted in "Angela Rayner's explosive speech reignites leadership speculation", BBC News (18 March 2026)
