Keir Starmer insists he wants Angela Rayner back: 'she will be a major voice again'

Sir Keir Starmer has revealed he wants Angela Rayner back in his Government.

The Prime Minister insisted his former right-hand woman had paid a "heavy price" after her resignation from his top team last month, reports The Telegraph.

Ms Rayner quit as deputy prime minister and housing secretary in the wake of a Telegraph investigation into her taxes, meanwhile Keir Starmer is ridiculed over Nigel Farage clash.

In his speech at Labour's annual party conference, Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, declared that the Government "needs Ms Rayner back".

Asked if he agreed with Mr Streeting, Sir Keir told LBC: "Yes. I mean, I said when Ange stepped down that she had been a major voice in the Labour movement and that she would be a major voice for many years to come.

"I was personally very sad to see her go. I mean, if you talk about social mobility, there is no greater story than Angela Rayner coming from very difficult circumstances to become deputy prime minister. I was very proud of that."

Prime Minister ready to welcome her back

Pressed on whether he was ready to welcome Ms Rayner back, Sir Keir replied: "She made a mistake. She's paid a heavy price and I've always thought that she will be a major voice again in the Labour movement. And I think that is a good thing.

"And I've been really struck, actually, since she did step down, by the number of people from different political walks of life who say to me they do want to see Angela Rayner have that voice again at some stage."

Cabinet ministers heap praise on absent Rayner

Ms Rayner was absent from the four-day conference but was the subject of plaudits from multiple Cabinet ministers including David Lammy, who replaced her as Sir Keir's deputy, and Steve Reed, who took on the housing brief.

Mr Lammy's effusive praise for his predecessor led to a standing ovation in the conference hall, while Mr Reed hailed her as "a true working-class hero".

Responding to Mr Reed's speech, Ms Rayner said: "Thank you Steve, and to all the delegates, activists and members who continue to be the lifeblood of this Labour Government.

"I'm sad not to be alongside you all in Liverpool this year, but I'm with you in spirit and will continue fighting for working people."

Streeting's comments not cleared by Number 10

A source close to Mr Streeting told The Telegraph that the Health Secretary's line about Ms Rayner was "ad-libbed", meaning it was not cleared by Downing Street beforehand.

Ms Rayner left the Government four weeks ago after admitting she had not paid enough stamp duty on the purchase of her seaside flat in Hove.

She had blamed "legal advice that I received" for her failure to pay a £40,000 stamp duty bill on the purchase of the second home, in East Sussex.

Ministerial code breach sealed her fate

But Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministers' interests, concluded that in not paying the correct level of tax, she had broken the ministerial code.

Ms Rayner's departure triggered a major Cabinet reshuffle just days into what Sir Keir had termed "phase two" of his premiership.

The race to replace her as deputy Labour leader, a position elected by party members, is ongoing.

Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, and Lucy Powell, who Sir Keir sacked as Commons leader last month, both hope to replace Ms Rayner.