Title: How Rayner, Streeting, and Burnham Undermined the PM in 12 Hours of Political Turmoil

While Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer remained in the House of Lords listening to the King’s speech outlining the government’s agenda for the year, three of his most significant internal rivals were simultaneously plotting their next strategic moves. Andy Burnham spent the day trying to convince MP Josh Simons, a former loyalist of Starmer, to abandon his parliamentary seat to bolster Labour’s standing. Meanwhile, Wes Streeting was in Parliament with his inner circle, debating whether to resign as health secretary, a position he had long desired. That same afternoon, Angela Rayner retreated to a London hotel room to secretly record a television interview addressing her tax resolution with HMRC.

The following 12 hours would unfold as a period of intense political drama that significantly eroded the Prime Minister’s authority, as all three figures executed their plans.

Rayner’s Strategic Return

The pivotal email from HMRC arrived in the inbox of Rayner’s tax lawyer, Graham Aaronson, on Tuesday afternoon. For the former deputy prime minister’s team, the primary feeling was one of relief, compounded by a sense of vindication. “The crucial factor was that she was cleared of any tax evasion or carelessness,” an associate noted. Although Rayner did agree to pay £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty, the timing of HMRC’s clearance was serendipitous. It emerged just as MPs were divided over Starmer’s leadership, making a leadership contest a distinct possibility.

According to her allies, Rayner did not intend to detract from the King’s speech or undermine the new legislation she had helped draft during her time as a minister. However, she wanted to ensure her statement carried weight. Her team opted to conduct two interviews—one with a newspaper and one with a broadcaster—and scheduled them for release the following morning. Shortly after the King removed his Imperial State Crown and robes, returning to Buckingham Palace by carriage, Rayner met Guardian journalist Pippa Crerar in central London. She then joined ITV’s Paul Brand in a nearby hotel suite. Both interviews were published at 06:00 on Thursday.

“We timed this to ensure we secured attention and generated a significant wave of coverage before other political developments unfolded,” an ally explained. Notably, Rayner did not inform the Prime Minister beforehand.

Streeting’s Resignation

As Westminster focused on Rayner’s interviews, Streeting was still undecided about whether to remain in the cabinet. “He did not start the week intending to resign,” a colleague stated. However, his departure seemed increasingly inevitable as days passed. During a brief meeting on Wednesday, Streeting informed Sir Keir that he had lost faith in the Prime Minister’s leadership.

The ambiguity surrounding the former health secretary’s status led critics to label him a “bottler,” arguing he lacked the necessary MP support to formally challenge Starmer. Streeting’s allies rejected this characterization. “I have seen the spreadsheet,” one claimed. Another colleague added that Streeting had been consulting with MPs and had secured the numbers needed for a contest. However, through these discussions, he concluded that any leadership challenge must allow for the widest range of candidates. “This meant allowing Andy Burnham the opportunity to declare his intentions and return if he chose to.”

Streeting’s team also recognized that without a clear victory, he would struggle to maintain the support of Labour MPs, particularly when facing difficult legislative votes. On Thursday morning, Streeting made his final decision. “Several cabinet ministers and officials from Number 10 asked him not to leave,” a supporter recalled. “But after speaking with friends and colleagues in Parliament, he made up his mind.”

Streeting drafted his resignation letter in his wood-paneled office at the Palace of Westminster. A friend noted that he did not take the decision lightly. “But once he had decided, he was certain it was the right and honorable course of action. It was done with a heavy heart, but with total conviction.”

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-15 20:21:08 UTC