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Angela Rayner is set to launch a podcast as she continues to pave the way for a political comeback.
The former deputy prime minister is preparing to launch Beyond the Bubble in an attempt to broaden her appeal ahead of a potential Labour leadership contest, and has reportedly interviewed former Tory cabinet minister turned Spectator editor Michael Gove for a pilot episode.
Both Lord Gove and Ms Rayner served as housing secretaries and the first episode is understood to focus on the issue, according to The Times.
The show has reportedly been produced by Global, which owns LBC radio station, but it is not yet clear whether it has been signed off for a full series and no launch date has been announced.
There are concerns among supporters of the prime minister that Ms Rayner will use the platform to continue to criticise the current Labour government’s direction and policies.
Earlier this month she gave a speech to the leftwing Mainstream group where she described the anti-immigration policies being pushed by home secretary Shabana Mahmood as “un-British”.
Angela Rayner is launching a new podcast (PA)
She also warned that Labour had “come to resemble the establishment” under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership and she urged the PM to “pick more fights”.
But despite her criticism, Sir Keir has confirmed that he is hoping to bring the former deputy prime minister back into government after she was forced to resign last year over her tax affairs.
Asked about a potential leadership challenge, Sir Keir told Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast: “Look, let me say about Angela to start with, she was a fantastic deputy prime minister.
“I was very proud of the fact that Angela had come from a really challenging start in life, to then be deputy Prime Minister.
“She’s got a lot to offer, and I obviously had a conversation with her on the day that she had to resign, and I regret that she had to resign. It was the right thing to do, but I regret that she had to do it.
“And I said to her, that her contribution to the Labour government and the Labour movement was by no means over. And so I do expect to see her playing a leading role in this Labour government.”
The Ashton-under-Lyme MP is still waiting for a report from HMRC into around £30,000 of stamp duty which she failed to pay on a flat she bought with her partner Sam Tarry, a former Labour MP, in Brighton before she can make any comeback to frontline politics.
However, the bookmakers have her as the odds on favourite to take over from Sir Keir with Labour projected to lose 1,700 council seats in the May elections and be pushed into third place in the devolved elections in Scotland and Wales.
Sir Keir though has confirmed that he wants Ms Rayner back in his government.
He told the Electoral Dysfunction podcast that his former deputy still has a “leading role” to play in his government – but he insisted that he is not “going anywhere” and will not quit as leader.
