Angela Rayner

Rayner in 2024

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 and Deputy Prime Minister since July 2024. Rayner has served as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party since 2020, and 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

• 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'?"