Angel Rayner – who returned to the heart of government in July after her resignation from Keir Starmer’s Cabinet in 2025 – promised: ‘I won’t let this opportunity go to waste’
Angela Rayner has said she wanted to serve in Andy Burnham’s government to deliver on “unfinished business” following her abrupt departure last year.
The ex-Deputy PM – who returned to the heart of government in July after her resignation from Keir Starmer’s Cabinet in 2025 over unpaid stamp duty – promised: “I won’t let this opportunity go to waste.”
It came as the senior Cabinet minister addressed Britain’s trade union movement at the Trade Union Congress (TUC) annual conference in Brighton on Monday.
Ms Rayner, who received a standing ovation, told delegates: “We will offer more than hope. People need change. That is why I wanted to serve in government. I have unfinished business.
“And I won’t let this opportunity go to waste. Building the homes we need, tackling rough sleeping and putting power back in the hands of people and their places.
“A council housing revolution, breathing space in the costing of living crisis starting with bus fare caps and cuts to energy bills, new rights for renters and leaseholders, and a rising National Minimum Wage. And we will take our plan to Make Work Pay forward in full.”
Ms Rayner also hailed the work of the trade union movement for their support on the landmark Employment Rights Act – billed as the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation – saying: “We beat the odds together.”
And she praised the Prime Minister’s commitment to fix the broken social care sector during his first days in No10. She said: “As a former care worker myself, I have waited my whole life for a Prime Minister to speak about social care the way Andy has — understanding what care workers do, and the conditions they face.”
Louise Haigh, the First Secretary of State, will also deliver a major address at the TUC on Tuesday.
She is standing in for Mr Burnham who cancelled his official engagements – including his speech to the TUC – following the death of his dad, Roy, who had been suffering with Alzheimer’s disease.
Earlier on Monday, the TUC chief Paul Nowak also used his own major address to repeat his demand for a windfall tax on banks’ bumper profits to fund a cut in energy bills for millions of struggling Brits.
The union leader said: “The Tories slashed taxes for the banks. And now Britain’s big four banks are making over £1 billion a week, while the City had its best year for bonuses since the crash.
“So, you’ll excuse me if I don’t get out the world ‘s smallest violin for the likes of Jamie Dimon, of JP Morgan, who claim banks can’t afford to pay their fair share of tax.
“Jamie, I say this with all due respect, working people bailed out the banks in 2008 – now it’s time to return the favour. Prime Minister, you’ve said you want to go further to cut people’s energy bills. This is how to pay for it – tax the banks.”