Angela Rayner allies 'fear she is being frozen out' less than a fortnight into Labour government
Angela Rayner's allies have raised fears she is being 'frozen out' less than a fortnight into the new Labour government.
The deputy PM is said to have been sidelined on key policy areas as Keir Starmer settles in after the election landslide.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been handed responsibility for an overhaul of workers' rights, which Ms Rayner was stewarding in opposition.
According to the Sunday Telegraph, there is also speculation that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will make the running on housing, after she made it the subject of her maiden speech since entering No11.
As deputy leader Ms Rayner has her own mandate from Labour members, and polls have suggested she is the most popular choice with the party's supporters to take over from Sir Keir.
As deputy leader Angela Rayner has her own mandate from Labour members, and polls have suggested she is the most popular choice with the party's supporters to take over from Keir Starmer
There is speculation that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will make the running on housing, after she made it the subject of her maiden speech on entering No11 - with Ms Rayner in the audience
She formally became deputy PM after July 4, and is Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
She has been seated at Sir Keir's side for Cabinet meetings. Sources dismissed the idea that Ms Rayner had been frozen out as 'absolute nonsense'.
However, some believe that Mr Reynolds has been instructed to water down the New Deal for Working People, which she previously championed.
'This probably means that the New Deal will get killed off as Jonny Reynolds will want to do what is best for business, not what is best for the unions - it will be a clash,' one Labour party source told the newspaper.
Another source said: 'Angela has been frozen out of everything. She was sitting in the front row of a speech about her own department.'
There have also been claims that members of Ms Rayner's shadow cabinet team were overlooked for big government jobs.
A friend of Ms Rayner reportedly urged her to 'get out there' more.
'Everyone has been looking busy - Wes, Ed and Rachel have all been out there doing things. Within a few days she is already being frozen out of stuff, having parts of her brief taken off her - it is not a great start,' they said.
Ms Rayner joined Ms Reeves on a visit to a building site after the Chancellor's speech last week
