Join the View from Westminster e mail for professional evaluation straight to your inbox
Get our free View from Westminster e mail
Get our free View from Westminster e mail
Angela Rayner has been accused of a bid to dam Sir Sadiq Khan from a return to parliament by new laws.
A invoice tabled by the deputy prime minister would stop the mayor of London from changing into an MP whereas nonetheless in workplace.
The invoice would thwart any probability of Sir Sadiq returning to parliament earlier than the subsequent normal election, ending the prospect of a bid for the management if Sir Keir Starmer had been to step down.
Ms Rayner’s division mentioned the change, which might apply to different mayors, together with Higher Manchester’s Andy Burnham, would guarantee they’re targeted on serving their cities.
However a Tory strategist instructed The Sunday Telegraph: “Contemporary out of making an attempt to do in Wes Streeting, but once more Angela Rayner is on manoeuvres, knifing management rivals. She ought to deal with delivering for Britain somewhat than on her petty get together political squabbles. But once more it’s get together first, nation final.”
Boris Johnson was an MP whereas serving as mayor of London, having used the mayoralty to boost his profile earlier than his eventual management bid.
The English Devolution and Group Empowerment Invoice put ahead by Ms Rayner would stop Sir Sadiq from following an analogous path to Mr Johnson, with hypothesis he’s within the management.
Sir Sadiq has denied he needs to develop into Labour chief, stating he has “no curiosity in any respect” within the place and that he has “no ambitions to return to the Commons”. He’s presently serving his third time period as London mayor after final Could’s election and isn’t anticipated to run for a fourth.
The Unbiased has contacted Mr Khan for remark.
After a disastrous first 12 months for the reason that normal election, which noticed his ballot scores plummet, Sir Keir has confronted rising hypothesis that his MPs will search to oust him as chief.
A rising variety of MPs on the “comfortable left” of the Labour Social gathering have been vocally important of the PM, with some urging Ms Rayner to launch a bid to interchange him.
Ms Rayner has beforehand mentioned she by no means needs to be chief of the Labour Social gathering or prime minister, insisting she is glad along with her present job.
In a current Sky Information interview, she mentioned: “Completely not. I don’t need to be chief of the Labour Social gathering.”
She added: “I’m very glad and honoured to be deputy prime minister of the nation, and I’ve acquired lots in my in-tray to show that I can do the job that I’m doing and ship on these milestones for individuals within the nation. That’s what I’m excited by.”
A spokesperson for Ms Rayner’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Native Authorities mentioned: “It’s already the case that mayors who’re police and crime commissioners can’t additionally function MPs, and these adjustments will make this constant for all mayors in order that they will deal with what’s a big position on the forefront of delivering change.”
